The Cal Golden Bears are making serious noise this offseason-and not quietly, either. On Wednesday, head coach Tosh Lupoi announced the addition of 34 new players to the 2026 roster, including a staggering 32 from the transfer portal. Add that to the 16 portal additions already on board, and you've got 50 newcomers in total, with 40 of them already enrolled for the spring semester and getting to work in Berkeley.
This isn’t just a numbers game, either. Cal’s transfer class ranks second in the ACC and 14th nationally, according to 247Sports. That’s a major statement for a program looking to climb the ladder quickly in a new-look conference.
Offensive Reload
Let’s start with the offense, where 15 fresh faces are joining the fold. That group includes six offensive linemen, three running backs, three wide receivers, two tight ends, and one quarterback. It’s a full-scale reload, and it’s clear Lupoi and his staff prioritized depth and competition across the board.
Among the headliners: quarterback Jackson Brosseau from Colorado State, a big-armed passer looking for a fresh start; offensive linemen like Jimothy Lewis Jr. (Mississippi State) and Kahlee Tafai (Minnesota), who bring size and Power Five experience to the trenches; and a trio of backs-Ashten Emory (UTEP), Adam Mohammed (Washington), and Chris Vargas (UC Davis)-who combined for over 1,500 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
At wide receiver, Chase Hendricks (Ohio) and Ian Strong (Rutgers) bring serious production. Between the two, they’ve racked up 333 catches, 3,284 receiving yards, and 23 touchdowns over their careers.
That’s not just experience-that’s proven playmaking. Hendricks and Strong have started 51 games combined, and both are entering their fourth collegiate seasons.
Tight end Dorian Thomas (New Mexico) is another name to watch. In 2025, he posted career highs with 56 receptions and 560 yards-numbers that ranked third and eighth, respectively, among FBS tight ends. He’ll be a valuable safety valve in the passing game and a matchup headache for opposing defenses.
Defensive Overhaul
On the other side of the ball, Cal brought in 16 defenders: five defensive backs, five edge rushers, three inside linebackers, and three defensive linemen. And this isn’t just a group of bodies-they’re coming from some of the top programs in the country.
Seven of these defenders-Ricky Fletcher (Ole Miss), Daniel Harris (Georgia), Tristan Jernigan (Texas A&M), Jericho Johnson (Oregon), Kingston Lopa (Oregon), Kamar Mothudi (Oregon), and Solomon Williams (Texas A&M)-played for teams that reached the 2025 College Football Playoff. Fletcher and Harris even started three games apiece in those high-stakes matchups. That kind of postseason experience is hard to come by and even harder to teach.
Edge rushers like Justin Beadles (Louisville), Emmanuel Okoye (Tennessee), and Joshua Pierce (North Texas) bring a mix of speed and power off the edge, while interior linemen such as Ashun Sheppard (Mississippi State) and Jayden Williams (North Texas) bolster the middle of the defensive front. Add in linebackers like Jernigan and USC transfer AJ Tuitele, and Cal suddenly has the makings of a defense that can fly to the ball and hold its own in the ACC.
Special Teams Gets a Boost
Special teams often get overlooked, but Cal didn’t ignore that phase of the game. Long snapper David Bird returns to Berkeley after a one-year stint at Alabama, where he gained valuable experience on one of the nation’s biggest stages.
He previously spent two seasons at Cal (2023-24) and now returns as a steadying presence. Punter Angus Davies (Tulsa) and kicker Towns McGough (Auburn) round out the trio of specialists brought in to tighten up Cal’s kicking game.
Top-Tier Talent Incoming
Several of these transfers come with serious credentials. According to 247Sports and/or On3, eight of Cal’s newcomers ranked in the top 25 nationally at their respective positions in the 2026 portal class.
- Adam Mohammed: No. 6 running back
- Dorian Thomas: No. 6 tight end
- Kingston Lopa: No. 8 safety
- Daniel Harris: No. 13 cornerback
- Chase Hendricks: No. 16 wide receiver
- David Bird: No. 18 long snapper
- Jericho Johnson: No. 18 defensive lineman
- Ian Strong: No. 22 wide receiver
Hendricks and Strong also cracked the top 100 overall transfer rankings, coming in at No. 61 and No. 97, respectively.
Final Thoughts
This is a massive roster shake-up, and it’s clear Cal isn’t sitting back in its first full offseason under Lupoi. The Bears are attacking the transfer portal with purpose-and results. With 50 new faces, including 32 transfers, this is one of the most aggressive and potentially impactful roster overhauls in the country.
The pieces are there. Now, it’s about chemistry, development, and turning all that talent into wins. If the Bears can bring it together quickly, they might be one of the surprise stories of the 2026 season.