The California Golden Bears are wasting no time reshaping their defense through the transfer portal, and their latest addition could be a key piece in the secondary. Former Ole Miss cornerback Ricky Fletcher is heading to Berkeley, and he brings both size and experience to a position group that’s undergone a serious overhaul this offseason.
Fletcher, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound corner, didn’t crack the starting lineup at Ole Miss in 2025, but he saw action in eight games, recording 11 tackles and a pass breakup for a team that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals. While his role was limited in Oxford, his breakout came the year before at South Alabama, where he tallied 38 tackles and 11 pass breakups in 2024. That production, paired with his length and physicality, makes him an intriguing fit in a Cal defense that’s looking to get more aggressive on the perimeter-especially as it prepares for life in the ACC.
With veterans Hezekiah Masses and Brett “Paco” Austin out of eligibility, Cal entered 2026 with some serious question marks at cornerback. But the addition of Fletcher, along with fellow 6-3 corner Daniel Harris from Georgia, gives the Bears a pair of long, athletic defenders who can compete right away. Returning contributors Jae’on Young and Khamani Hudson are still in the mix, which sets up what should be a highly competitive spring and fall camp battle for the starting jobs.
Fletcher’s arrival is just one part of a broader roster transformation in Berkeley. Head coach Justin Wilcox and his staff have been aggressive in the portal, bringing in a wave of new talent across the board-especially on offense.
Let’s take a look at the full list of transfer additions for Cal so far:
Transfer Portal Arrivals:
- Quarterback: Jackson Brousseau (Colorado State)
- Running Backs: Adam Mohammed (Washington), Carter Vargas (UC Davis), Ashten Emory (UTEP)
- Wide Receivers: Ian Strong (Rutgers), Chase Hendricks (Ohio), Cooper Perry (Oregon)
- Tight End: Dorian Thomas (New Mexico)
- Offensive Linemen: Jimothy Lewis (Mississippi State), Mykeal Rabess (Florida International), Kahli Tafai (Minnesota), Ashton Rivera (Kent State), Jacob Arop (South Dakota)
- Defensive Linemen: Jericho Johnson (Oregon), Justin Beadles (Louisville), Ashun Shepphard (Mississippi State)
- Edge Rushers: Solomon Williams (Texas A&M), Emmanuel Okoye (Tennessee)
- Linebacker: Tristan Jernigan (Texas A&M)
- Cornerbacks: Ricky Fletcher (Ole Miss), Daniel Harris (Georgia)
- Safeties: Kingston Lopa (Oregon), Michael Hurst Jr.
(Northern Arizona)
- Special Teams: Punter Angus Davies (Tulsa), Kicker Towns McGough (Auburn)
Confirmed Returners:
Despite the roster shakeup, Cal is retaining some key pieces from last season. Quarterback EJ Caminong withdrew from the portal, and other notable returners include tight end Mason Mini, receiver Mark Hamper, offensive tackle Frederick Williams III, and center Bastian Swinney.
On defense, linemen Derek Wilkins and Nate Burrell (who also withdrew from the portal), edge rusher Jayden Wayne, and defensive backs Isaiah Crosby and Cam Sidney are all back. Kicker Chase Meyer also opted to stay.
Transfer Portal Departures:
Of course, the influx of new talent has been matched by a wave of departures. Cal has seen several linebackers exit, including Cade Uluave (BYU), Luke Ferrelli (Clemson), and Curlee Thomas (North Texas).
Defensive linemen TJ Bush (Minnesota) and Ike Okafor are also gone, as is edge rusher Ryan McCulloch (UCLA). On offense, running back Brandon High (UTSA) and a handful of offensive linemen-including Nick Morrow (Kansas) and Braden Miller (Duke)-have moved on.
Tight end Landon Morris (Wake Forest), quarterback Devin Brown (Weber State), and kicker Abram Murray are also among the departed.
This is a team in transition, no doubt. But with the size and skill they’re bringing in-especially in the secondary-Cal is clearly aiming to be more physical and versatile on defense.
Fletcher’s addition checks a lot of boxes: experience, length, and a proven ability to make plays on the ball. If he can channel some of that 2024 South Alabama production in Berkeley, he could be a major factor in the Bears’ defensive resurgence.