Adam Mohammed came to Cal with his eyes on something bigger than a roster spot. He came in wanting to add his own chapter to a running back tradition he already knew well.
The transfer said the program’s history at the position mattered to him from the start, and the chance to connect with the names attached to it only reinforced that feeling.
“Just seeing the history with the running backs over here, that played a huge part into coming here. I’ve met Marshawn Lynch, Jahvid Best.
Just talking to those guys, knowing the culture they had over here and just wanting to continue it. That’s what I’m trying to continue.”
For Mohammed, the recruiting process became personal in a hurry. Tosh Lupoi made the trip to Miami after the Texas Tech game, and the two spent hours talking through football and life. Mohammed said that conversation carried real weight because of how his family felt about the fit.
“He actually flew in from Miami after the Texas Tech game. We sat in the office for like two hours just talking about ball and life.
My mom was comfortable and whatever mom says, if she’s comfortable I’m comfortable. It was just overall the better fit for me.”
Once he got to campus, Mohammed said Cal’s identity showed up in the way the team talks about its work.
“That’s what we preach. Relentless effort, ball excellence, power unit. We’re going to dominate for six seconds, we’re going to protect and score the ball and we’re going to be tight together.”
Even as one of the newcomers in the room, Mohammed said the transition into the group has been smooth. The relationships came quickly, and the off-field time has helped make the new environment feel familiar.
“From the very first day it was really just getting to know everyone’s name and after that I feel like I’ve been here for years. Just being with the guys, I feel like I’ve known them for a long time.
We all go over to each other’s houses and chill. We just kick it.
It’s not that hard.”
In Other News...
Tosh Lupoi Faces One Huge Cal Defensive Question Before UCLA
Cals defensive rebuild is already one of the most intriguing parts of Tosh Lupois first season, and the opener against UCLA will offer the first real look at how far along it actually is. With Lupoi and defensive coordinator Michael Hutchings installing a system that looks a lot closer to Oregons than the one Bears fans have been used to, the competition has been wide open at nearly every level of the unit, from the front to the secondary.
The uncertainty is especially notable because so many transfers and returning players are still battling for jobs, leaving the final lineup far from settled as game week approaches. Cal expects a defense built around speed and versatility, but the bigger question is which players will settle into the key roles fast enough to make that vision work when the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Somerville Faces One Choice That Could Define Cals Offense
With preseason training camp approaching, Cals offense looks far more settled at the skill spots than it has in recent years. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is expected to take over at quarterback, Adam Mohammed projects as the lead back, and Ian Strong and Chase Hendricks appear lined up as the top wideout options as Jordan Somerville gets his first real chance to shape the group in his image.
The bigger question now is how Somerville wants to deploy the rest of the offense around them. The Bears still have some uncertainty up front, and the way the new coordinator balances the tight end room against the wide receivers could say plenty about what kind of attack Cal plans to be when camp opens. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cal Star Michael Kim Just Delivered A Stunning PGA Moment
Michael Kims second round at the 3M Open was the kind of day that can reset a tournament and remind everyone how quickly a golfer can change the conversation. The former Cal standout pieced together birdies all over TPC Twin Cities, finishing with a 12-under round that put him in the thick of the chase and turned a strong week into something much bigger.
For Kim, a 2018 John Deere Classic winner, the immediate challenge is no longer about making noise but about keeping the momentum going when the weekend pressure arrives. He said his focus is on carrying that form forward, and with the leaderboard now tilted in his favor, the next two rounds will decide whether this becomes just a remarkable afternoon or something even more memorable. [Read more 🡒]