Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele walked into ACC Media Day with a year of experience behind him, and the difference showed in the way he talked about everything from his own growth to the pieces around him. The freshman-season highlight reel is already there, but Sagapolutele spent most of his time looking forward - to a new season, a new staff, and a new set of challenges.
Asked how life feels different now compared with his true freshman year at Media Day, Sagapolutele said, “It’s changed a tremendous amount, but same thing’s the same thing. Just continue to keep the main things the main things, and just continue to build this culture.
Just continue to get in with these guys, just the continuous reps to be ready for season. I’m just so excited to head into this new season with a bunch of great guys.”
One of the biggest reasons for that confidence, he said, is the support from general manager Ron Rivera. Sagapolutele credited Rivera for making the transition easier and for being a steady presence around the program.
“Coach Ron Rivera has been tremendous, especially to our program. Just being able to talk one-on-one with him pretty much on the weekly has been great. What he’s helped me do, just making me feel comfortable in everything I do - he’s been a tremendous help for me, not just for me, but for the program.”
Sagapolutele also embraced the reality of a coast-to-coast schedule, saying the travel is part of the appeal. He pointed to East Coast road trips as something he looks forward to, while also noting that the Stanford rivalry remains part of the picture.
“Playing on the East Coast, I really find it exciting. Being able to travel to new places and just see new stadiums and new fan bases, just being able to take on a challenge is always fun for me.
While also keeping that Stanford rivalry is fun as well - they’re a great program, very well respected. I’m just excited for this new season, this new challenge ahead.”
The quarterback also had plenty to say about the new weapons around him. After spring practice, he singled out transfer receivers Ian Strong, Chase Hendricks and Cooper Perry, and he made it clear he likes what he sees in the entire offense.
“Those three, super talented guys. Their talent jumps off the roof and you see it right away.
I’m just blessed to be able to throw to those guys, and all the guys that we’ve brought in and the guys that we’ve kept. We have so much talent in our receiver room, running back room, tight ends room, and especially our O-line - it’s where it starts.
We have great talent all over.”
Sagapolutele also reflected on the sense of belonging he felt as a freshman, especially around the Poly house, and how that experience helped him settle in. He spoke about that foundation while discussing how he now wants to pass that same feeling along to teammates such as tight end Taimane Purcell.
The biggest story he revisited, though, was Coach Lupoi’s midnight flight to Hawaii - a meeting that clearly stuck with him. Sagapolutele said he was home watching his alma mater in the state championship when the call came in from his mother.
“It caught me by surprise. I was back home watching my alma mater in the state championship, and it’s around 9:00 - I get a call from my mom that he’s flying in, used to land around 12. Gets in about 1:30, and we talked all the way to like about 4:30 in the morning.
“It was a great talk. It just felt right, knew this is where I wanted to be.
He’s a head coach about winning, and that’s obviously what I want to do as well. The culture that he’s brought has been tremendous - relentless head coach that just wants nothing but the best for the program and for the players.
“Being able to just continue to meet with him weekly and continue to talk ball, life - has just been great for mental health, everything. It’s just been so great and tremendous for sure.”
He also said being invited to the Manning Passing Academy was a meaningful honor, even though he wasn’t able to attend.
“It was a great blessing to be able to be invited to the Manning Passing Academy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend it, but just being able to be on the eyes of such prolific people like the Mannings is really a blessing for sure, and definitely would love to attend it next year. Just grateful that I was on their radar.”
And with one staff already believing in him as a true freshman and another now backing him as a sophomore, Sagapolutele said that trust matters.
“It’s tremendous. I’m just so grateful that I have people that believe in me - especially this new staff now, that’s been full-on, not just me but all the players that we brought and the guys that we have in the building.
We’ve been working relentlessly this whole offseason getting ready for our first game, September 5th. We’re just excited to show what we can do on the field, and we’re going to continue to keep working the rest of summer into fall camp as we get into that first game.”
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