Cal’s search for a real spark in the run game may have found its best answer in Adam Mohammed.
The junior transfer from Washington arrived in Berkeley with a backstory that still isn’t fully clear, beyond the line Mohammed offered this week: “Wanted a fresh, new start,”
That’s about all he’s willing to say about why he left UW last January, a decision that caught people off guard in Seattle. Mohammed was expected to be in line for a starting role this fall behind an offensive line that returned four starters from a 9-4 team. Dan Raley, who has covered the Huskies for decades, described it in a Jan. 6 story for Washington Huskies on SI as “a move that remains as puzzling as ever with every turn”
Cal, though, isn’t spending much time wondering why it happened. The Bears are focused on what Mohammed can do for them.
“I have great respect for him, the way he goes about every day. He leads by action. Ultimately, that’s the most important leader in my opinion,” first-year head coach Tosh Lupoi said.
Lupoi added that Mohammed earned straight A’s in summer classes and called him “a young man I’m thankful to have a part of our organization.”
That kind of praise matters because Cal badly needs help on the ground. Last season, the Bears finished last in the ACC in rushing yards per game at 81.7, and they managed just 2.8 yards per carry. That’s the sort of production that puts too much on the quarterback and leaves an offense fighting uphill all game.
So Cal attacked the transfer portal, bringing in offensive linemen and three running backs. Mohammed was the big name in that group, joined by Carter Vargas from UC Davis and Ashten Emory from UTEP. Mohammed’s résumé stood out: 523 rushing yards last season at 4.9 yards per carry.
Sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele made it clear the Bears were eager to land him.
“Before we got him, just praying he’d end up coming to us,” Sagapolutele said.
Mohammed, for his part, sees Berkeley as the right place to keep building. “Obviously, Cal’s a great place to be.
You can get a good degree, great education. NFL coaching staffs will be here.”
There’s also a football reason Cal liked him so much. Lupoi, who spent the last four seasons as Oregon’s defensive coordinator, pointed out that Mohammed and James Madison’s Wayne Knight were the only two running backs to top 100 yards against the Ducks last season.
Mohammed ran for 105 yards in Washington’s 26-14 loss to Oregon, while Knight posted 110 yards in JMU’s 51-34 loss to Oregon in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. Knight has since transferred to UCLA and will face Cal on Saturday night.
At 6-foot and 220 pounds, Mohammed brings size, but the Bears say his value goes well beyond the frame. Bonapha said, “He’s such a great kid.
His mindset when it comes to work, how he treats not only his teammates but how he treats everybody in this building.” He added, “When you interact with him, you can see this kid has a bright future outside of football.
But I’m just happy he’s here playing with us.”
Sagapolutele had already seen Mohammed on film before he arrived, and what he’s seen in person has only confirmed the impression.
“Explosive guy. Got contact balance,” he said.
“An even better person - he’s always happy. Having a guy like that on the team is just amazing.
He’s impressed me way more than I would have expected.”
Mohammed believes he can handle whatever the Bears ask of him.
“I feel like I can do a little bit of everything. I can run.
I can catch. I can wiggle through little (holes).
Basically do it all,” he said.
New offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville sees a back who can do the unglamorous work and the highlight-reel stuff.
“He’ll do the dirty work. He’ll do the splash plays,” Somerville said.
“His energy is infectious. He doesn’t say a whole lot but the way he runs or even if he’s not carrying the football, his every day play and energy and ill-intent, that’s what he’s going to bring.”
And if Sagapolutele is right, Cal’s ground game is about to look a lot different. How much better? That’s the question hanging over the Bears now.
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