The California Golden Bears are deep into a defensive retool, and the latest addition brings both size and upside to a front seven in transition. Joshua Pierce, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound edge rusher from North Texas, is headed to Berkeley with two years of eligibility in hand-and he’s not just another name in the portal. He’s part of a broader plan to reshape a defense that struggled to generate consistent pressure last season.
Pierce logged 14 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble across 13 games for the Mean Green in 2025. Those numbers might not jump off the page, but they tell part of the story: he’s a physical presence who can rotate in immediately and help set the edge. For a Cal defense that lost key contributors like TJ Bush and Chris Victor, Pierce brings much-needed depth and experience to a group that’s being rebuilt on the fly.
And he’s not coming alone. The Bears have been active in the portal, stacking talent at the edge position with additions like Solomon Williams and Emmanuel Okoye. The goal is clear-reload the pass rush and get younger, faster, and more disruptive up front.
That’s where defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi comes in. Known for his ability to develop front-seven talent, Lupoi is now tasked with molding a young, athletic group into a cohesive unit.
There are going to be growing pains-it’s hard to avoid that with so much turnover-but the pieces are intriguing. The edge room, in particular, is starting to look like a group that could cause problems for Pac-12 offenses sooner than later.
Let’s take a look at the bigger picture.
Who’s Back for Cal
Despite the wave of departures, the Bears are holding onto some key players. Quarterback EJ Caminong decided to withdraw from the portal, giving the offense some continuity under center.
He’ll be joined by tight end Mason Mini and wide receiver Mark Hamper, along with key offensive linemen Frederick Williams III and Bastian Swinney. That’s a solid foundation on the offensive side.
On defense, linemen Derek Wilkins and Nate Burrell return, and edge Jayden Wayne is back in the fold. The secondary retains Isaiah Crosby and Cam Sidney, while kicker Chase Meyer also opted to stay.
Who’s Gone
The linebacker room took the biggest hit. Cade Uluave (BYU), Luke Ferrelli (Clemson), Harrison Taggart (Utah State), Buom Jock (Wake Forest), and Curlee Thomas (North Texas) are all on the move. That’s a lot of production and leadership out the door in one offseason.
The defensive line also lost TJ Bush (Minnesota) and Ike Okafor, while edge rusher Ryan McCulloch is heading to UCLA. On offense, running back Brandon High is off to UTSA, and the offensive line saw exits from Lajuan Owens, Nick Morrow (Kansas), Leon Bell, and Jordan Spasojevic-Moko.
The quarterback room was hit as well-Devin Brown is transferring to Weber State, and Belay Brummel is also leaving. At the skill positions, wideouts Dazmin James and Jaiven Plummer (Georgia Tech) are gone, along with tight end Landon Morris (Wake Forest). Kicker Abram Murray has also moved on.
The Bottom Line
Cal’s transfer portal activity this offseason reads like a full-scale reshuffling, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. But it’s not just turnover-it’s targeted.
The Bears aren’t just replacing bodies; they’re bringing in high-upside talent that fits what Lupoi wants to build. Joshua Pierce is the latest example of that.
This is a young, evolving defense, and while the road ahead may have its bumps, the long-term vision is taking shape. If the new pieces click-and if Lupoi can work his developmental magic-this Cal defense could be one to watch in the coming seasons.