College football: Cal QB against USC a mystery
It looks like the Cal Golden Bears will be using their third different quarterback in three games on Saturday night against USC, with Chase Garbers expected back after missing four games because of injury, although coach Justin Wilcox is keeping the decision a mystery.
BERKELEY — As Cal prepares to celebrate the most revered quarterback in program history, coach Justin Wilcox will again keep secret his choice for who will play the position against USC on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Signs point to the Bears using their third different quarterback in three games, with Chase Garbers expected back after missing four games because of injury.
But Wilcox wasn’t giving anything away Wednesday in his final gathering with reporters before Saturday’s Joe Roth Game, honoring the late All-American who died shortly after playing the 1976 season with terminal melanoma.
Asked when he would announce his starting quarterback, Wilcox smiled and said, “Later. Maybe Friday. Maybe Friday night. Maybe Saturday morning. Maybe Saturday at noon.”
Wilcox followed the same script a week ago before announcing Friday afternoon that Devon Modster would start over freshman Spencer Brasch against Washington State. Modster had missed the previous game with injury but returned to lead the Bears to a 33-20 win over Washington State that snapped a four-game losing skid.
Still, Garbers was the starter the first five games, directing Cal to a 4-0 start and No. 15 national ranking before being injured against Arizona State on Sept. 27. He has not played since, but resumed practicing a week ago.
Garbers passed for career bests of 357 yards and four touchdowns in the Bears’ win at Ole Miss, the week going down vs. ASU, and is 10-5 as Cal’s starting quarterback.
The Bears (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12) need one more victory to become bowl eligible. Cal beat USC 15-14 in Los Angeles a year ago and hasn’t knocked off the Trojans (6-4, 4-2) in consecutive years since winning three in a row from 1998 through 2000.
Wilcox didn’t appear concerned about possible rust on Garbers’ game.
“He hasn’t played for six weeks but he’s been throwing the ball for the last couple and doing a lot of active rehab,” Wilcox said. “He looks good.”
Trojans terrific trio: USC boasts what Wilcox suggested might be the best threesome of wide receivers in the country in seniors Michael Pittman Jr. and Tyler Vaughns and sophomore Amon-Ra St. Brown.
“Those are NFL players,” Wilcox said of the three who have combined to catch 188 passes this season, including 18 touchdowns.
Cal defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said the three are long and explosive. “(They’re) physical freaks who are going to be playing on Sunday, and unfortunately they’re playing on Saturday this week,” he said.
Vaughns is listed as questionable to play with a slight ankle sprain.
Senior safety Ashtyn Davis said the Cal secondary is excited for the challenge.
“They’ve got some weapons on offense, for sure. It’ll be fun,” he said. “In our (defensive backs) room, we look forward to teams that throw a lot. We feel that plays to our advantage.”
Three seniors to return: Thirteen Cal seniors will play their final home games Saturday, including defensive standouts Evan Weaver, Jaylinn Hawkins and Davis. But three others apparently could get the chance to play another season for the Bears.
Defensive back Josh Drayden, who has played in just four games this season because of injury, is expected to be held out the rest of the schedule, which automatically qualifies him to red-shirt and retain a year of eligibility.
Starting defensive ends Luc Bequette and Zeandae Johnson both will apply for and expect to be granted sixth years of eligibility after each missing most or all of a previous season due to injury.