Cal Football: Most Important Transfers and Redshirt Freshmen

With spring practice for the California Golden Bears over, we officially are in the dead period for college football. No significant events will take place until August, when fall practice starts up.

Like many schools, California likes to redshirt players not expected to compete for starting positions. These players have now matured, and Cal has a slew of redshirt freshman anxious to break out next season.

In addition, Cal benefits from junior college transfers.

Here are the most important transfers and redshirt freshman for California this upcoming year, starting with junior college transfer Matt Williams. 

OL Matt Williams

Offensive lineman Matt Williams is a versatile football player who now plays on the offensive line. Williams has experience playing rugby in his younger European days. In high school he played wide receiver and corner.

Now, Williams has bulked up and measures in at 6'3" and 306 pounds and is an intriguing prospect. After red-shirting last year, the transfer from North Dakota State College of Science, should receive significant playing time. 

WR Maurice Harris

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Maurice Harris is the cousin of current Cal stars Keenan Allen and Zach Maynard. How about the storyline if Harris wins a starting receiver job, opposite Allen. That scenario would be just like they lined up in the backyard years ago.

Defenses are going to target Allen after he exploded onto the scene with a monster 2011 season. Harris should be playing against primarily one-on-one coverage, opening up large chunks of the field to challenge corners.  Harris has good size for a receiver (6'3", 206 pounds) and has picked up 10 pounds of muscle since the end of high school. 

LB Jason Gibson

Linebacker Jason Gibson is a speedy, explosive pass-rusher that should be able to penetrate into the offensive backfield. Gibson red-shirted last year and that experience watching under the eyes of prior starters should help his game. Gibson has a decent chance to land one of two outside linebacker spots as outside rusher in the 3-4 defense Cal runs.