June 15, 2009

BERKELEY - Cal is ranked No. 9 in the recently released Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview. Steele refers to the Golden Bears as "a legitimate National Title contender" in his preview of the team. National rankings and the first team preseason All-American selections of Bryan Anger, Heisman Trophy candidate Jahvid Best and Syd'Quan Thompson highlight the recognition Cal has received from a number of media outlets previewing the 2009 college football season. Following is a compilation of the recognition Cal has received through June 15.

 

NATIONAL TEAM RANKINGS

·         No. 9 (Phil Steele), No. 11 (Athlon), No. 12 (Lindy's), No. 13 (Top 25 Intel), No. 21 (Sporting News)

 

PAC-10 FINISH PREDICTIONS

·         2nd (Athlon, Lindy's, Phil Steele), 3rd (Sporting News)

 

HEISMAN WATCH

·         TB Jahvid Best - Favorites (Athlon), No. 4 Candidate (Lindy's), No. 6 Candidate (Phil Steele), Second-Tier Favorites (Sports Network)

·         QB Kevin Riley - Possibilities (Phil Steele)

 

OTHER WATCH LISTS

·         P Bryan Anger - Punter of the Year (College Football Performance Awards)

·         TB Jahvid Best - Overall Performer of the Year (College Football Performance Awards), Running Back of the Year (College Football Performance Awards)

·         DB Syd'Quan Thompson - The Lott Trophy

 

ALL-AMERICAN HONORS

·         P Bryan Anger - First Team Specialists (Athlon), Second Team Specialists (Phil Steele)

·         TB Jahvid Best - First Team Offense (Athlon, Lindy's), Second Team Offense (Phil Steele, Sporting News)

·         DB Syd'Quan Thompson - First Team Defense (Athlon, Lindy's), Second Team Defense (Sporting News), Third Team Defense (Phil Steele)

 

ALL-PAC-10 HONORS

·         DL Tyson Alualu - First Team Defense (Athlon, Sporting News), Second Team Defense (Lindy's, Phil Steele)

·         P Bryan Anger - First Team Specialist (Athlon, Lindy's, Phil Steele, Sporting News)

·         TB Jahvid Best - Most Valuable Player (Lindy's), First Team Offense (Athlon, Lindy's, Phil Steele, Sporting News), Second Team Kick Returner (Athlon), Third Team Kick Returner (Phil Steele)

·         WR Nyan Boateng - Third Team Offense (Phil Steele)

·         OL Mark Boskovich - Third Team Offense (Athlon)

·         DB Marcus Ezeff - Second Team Defense (Phil Steele)

·         DB Darian Hagan - Third Team Defense (Athlon, Phil Steele)

·         DL Cameron Jordan - Third Team Defense (Athlon), Fourth Team Defense (Phil Steele)

·         LB Mike Mohamed - First Team Defense (Phil Steele, Sporting News), Second Team Defense (Athlon)

·         QB Kevin Riley - Third Team Offense (Athlon), Fourth Team Offense (Phil Steele)

·         OL Mitchell Schwartz - Second Team Offense (Lindy's), Third Team Offense (Athlon, Phil Steele)

·         OL Mike Tepper - First Team Offense (Lindy's, Sporting News), Second Team Offense (Athlon, Phil Steele)

·         DB Syd'Quan Thompson - First Team Defense (Athlon, Lindy's, Phil Steele, Sporting News), First Team Punt Returner (Athlon, Phil Steele)

·         WR Verran Tucker - Fourth Team Offense (Phil Steele)

·         TB Shane Vereen - Fourth Team Offense (Phil Steele)

 

PLAYER/COACH RATINGS

·         DL Tyson Alualu - No. 45 National Defensive End (Phil Steele)

·         P Bryan Anger - No. 2 National Punter (Phil Steele), No. 3 National Punter (Lindy's)

·         TB Jahvid Best - No. 1 National Running Back (Lindy's), No. 1 National Running Back (Rivals), No. 2 Pac-10 NFL Talent (Lindy's), No. 4 Draft Eligible National Running Back (Phil Steele), No. 7 National Overall Player (Sporting News), No. 25 National Kick Returner (Phil Steele)

·         OL Mark Brasinski - No. 35 National Freshman Offensive Lineman (Phil Steele)

·         QB Allan Bridgford - No. 15 National Freshman Quarterback

·         DL Deandre Coleman - No. 24 National Freshman Defensive Lineman (Phil Steele)

·         DB Chris Conte - No. 45 National Cornerback (Phil Steele)

·         LB Ryan Davis - No. 33 Incoming Junior College Overall Player (Phil Steele)

·         DB Marcus Ezeff - No. 30 National Strong Safety (Phil Steele)

·         LB Steven Fanua - No. 41 National Freshman Linebacker (Phil Steele)

·         C Chris Guarnero - No. 39 Draft Eligible National Center (Phil Steele)

·         DB Darian Hagan - No. 54 National Cornerback (Phil Steele)

·         DL Derrick Hill - No. 45 Draft Eligible National Defensive Tackle (Phil Steele)

·         DL Cameron Jordan - No. 53 National Defensive End (Phil Steele)

·         Offensive Coordinator Andy Ludwig - No. 4 National Offensive Coach (Rivals)

·         LB Jerome Meadows - No. 49 Incoming Junior College Overall Player (Phil Steele)

·         LB Mike Mohamed - No. 44 National Inside Linebacker (Phil Steele)

·         LB Jarred Price - No. 12 Incoming Junior College Overall Player (Phil Steele)

·         QB Kevin Riley - No. 22 Draft Eligible National Quarterback (Phil Steele)

·         OL Charles Siddoway - No. 45 National Freshman Offensive Lineman (Phil Steele)

·         Head Coach Jeff Tedford - No. 19 National Head Coach (Rivals)

·         DB Syd'Quan Thompson - No. 2 National Cornerback (Lindy's), No. 4 National Punt Returner (Phil Steele), No. 5 National Defensive Back (Rivals), No. 8 National Cornerback (Phil Steele)

·         TB Shane Vereen - No. 61 Draft Eligible National Running Back (Phil Steele)

·         DB Steve Williams - No. 37 National Freshman Linebacker (Phil Steele)

·         TB Dasarte Yarnway - No. 52 National Freshman Running Back (Phil Steele)

 

POSITION GROUP RATINGS

·         Defensive Backs - No. 6 National (Lindy's)

·         Defensive Line - No. 10 National (Phil Steele)

·         Offensive Line - No. 8 National (Lindy's), No. 10 National (Phil Steele)

·         Running Backs - No. 3 National (Athlon), No. 1 Pac-10 (Athlon)

·         Special Teams - No. 21 National (Phil Steele)

 

MISCELLANEOUS

·         2009 Projected Most Improved Offensive Pass - No. 10 National (Phil Steele)

·         2009 Projected Pass Defense - No. 6 National (Phil Steele)

·         2009 Projected Total Defense - No. 11 National (Phil Steele)

·         2009 Surprise Teams - No. 3 National (Phil Steele)

·         2009 Plus/Minus Power Ratings - No. 3 Pac-10 (Phil Steele)

·         2009 Power Poll - No. 10 National (Phil Steele)

·         2009 USC at California - No. 10 National Conference Game (Lindy's)

·         RS DeSean Jackson - First Team All-Decade Team Specialist (Athlon)

·         TB Marshawn Lynch - First Team All-Decade Team Offense (Athlon)

·         OL Alex Mack - First Team All-Decade Team Offense (Athlon), Second Team All-Decade Offense (Lindy's)