The California Golden Bears just added a key piece to their quarterback room - and it’s a name Pac-12 fans might want to get familiar with. Former Colorado State signal-caller Jackson Brousseau is headed to Berkeley, bringing with him starting experience, a solid arm, and the kind of poise Cal needs as it retools its offense heading into a new chapter.
Brousseau started eight games for the Rams last season and closed the year as their QB1. His final outing?
A 323-yard, two-touchdown performance against Air Force that showed off his ability to push the ball downfield and hang tough in a collapsing pocket. Over the course of the season, he threw for 1,359 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions on 201 attempts, completing nearly 64% of his passes.
His 6.7 yards per attempt and 132 passer rating don’t jump off the stat sheet, but context matters - and Brousseau had plenty working against him.
Colorado State’s offensive line gave up 32 sacks last year, the same number as Cal’s, and Brousseau took his fair share of hits. That pressure eventually led to an injury late in the season, opening the door for Darius Curry to step in. But when healthy, Brousseau showed the kind of decision-making and composure that Cal’s coaching staff will value - especially as they look to replace Devin Brown, who transferred to Weber State.
Brousseau won’t be alone in the quarterback room. Cal is also getting EJ Caminong back - a return that bolsters the depth chart and keeps some continuity in the QB room.
Caminong, along with JUCO transfer Dominic Ingrassia and incoming transfer Nainoa Lopes, gives the Bears five scholarship quarterbacks heading into spring ball. That kind of depth is a luxury in today’s transfer-heavy landscape, and it gives Cal multiple paths to find the right guy under center.
But Brousseau is the headliner for now, and his arrival is part of a broader, aggressive push by Cal in the portal. The Bears have been busy, restocking talent at nearly every position group.
Here’s a look at the full list of incoming transfers for Cal:
Offense:
- 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)
Defense:
- Defensive Linemen: Justin Beadles (Louisville), Ashun Shepphard (Mississippi State)
- Edge: Solomon Williams (Texas A&M)
- Linebackers: Tristan Jernigan (Texas A&M)
- Cornerback: Daniel Harris (Georgia)
- Safeties: Kingston Lopa (Oregon), Michael Hurst Jr.
(Northern Arizona)
This is a serious infusion of talent, especially in the trenches, where Cal added five offensive linemen - a clear sign they’re prioritizing protection and physicality up front. That’s good news for any quarterback, especially one like Brousseau who’s already shown he can operate under pressure.
As for the players sticking around, Cal is retaining some important pieces on both sides of the ball. Caminong’s return at quarterback is notable, but so are names like tight end Mason Mini, wide receiver Mark Hamper, and center Bastian Swinney.
On defense, Derek Wilkins, Jayden Wayne, Nate Burrell, Isaiah Crosby, and Cam Sidney are all back in the fold. Kicker Chase Meyer also withdrew from the portal, stabilizing the special teams unit.
Of course, the portal giveth and the portal taketh away. Cal saw a wave of departures this cycle, particularly at linebacker, where six players exited, including Cade Uluave (BYU) and Luke Ferrelli (Clemson).
The defensive front also took a hit with the losses of TJ Bush (Minnesota) and Ryan McCulloch (UCLA). Offensively, the Bears are moving on from quarterback Devin Brown, three offensive linemen, and several receivers, including Dazmin James and Jaiven Plummer.
Here’s a snapshot of Cal’s portal departures:
Departures:
- Quarterbacks: Devin Brown (Weber State), Belay Brummel
- Running Back: Brandon High (UTSA)
- Wide Receivers: Dazmin James, Jaiven Plummer
- Tight Ends: Landon Morris (Wake Forest), Ben Marshall
- Offensive Linemen: Nick Morrow (Kansas), Leon Bell, Jordan Spasojevic-Moko
- Linebackers: Cade Uluave (BYU), Luke Ferrelli (Clemson), Harrison Taggart, Eze Osondu, Buom Jock (Wake Forest), Curlee Thomas (North Texas)
- Defensive Linemen: TJ Bush (Minnesota), Ike Okafor
- Edge: Ryan McCulloch (UCLA)
- Defensive Backs: Kaden Cook
- Special Teams: Kicker Abram Murray, Punter Michael Kern
In today’s college football world, roster churn is part of the game. But what stands out with Cal’s portal activity is the clear direction: they’re building depth, adding experience, and reinforcing both lines of scrimmage. That’s how you compete in a physical, fast-evolving landscape.
And with Jackson Brousseau now in the mix, the Bears have a quarterback who’s been through the fire and come out sharper - the kind of player who could be a stabilizing force as Cal continues to shape its identity.