What is Cal’s plan at quarterback? Don’t ask coach Justin Wilcox

BERKELEY — There was no announcement about a starting quarterback from Cal coach Justin Wilcox on Thursday.

And there may not be one prior to the Bears’ season opener Aug. 31 against UC Davis.

Returning starter Fernando Mendoza and transfer newcomers Chandler Rogers and CJ Harris have competed through 19 days of fall camp, without one jumping above the others, Wilcox said.

“We don’t have anything to announce right now, but Fernando, Chandler, CJ, all those guys have had really, really strong camps,” Wilcox said in his first visit with reporters since Saturday’s second fall scrimmage.

Wilcox declined to make clear whether he will name a starter before the game or might play two or three quarterbacks against the FCS-level Aggies.

“We’ll have a plan going into the game,” he said, “but how much we share is . . . you’re probably going to be wanting more information. I’ll put it that way.”

All three have made significant improvements, said Wilcox, who is specifically pleased with their decision-making.

Mendoza started the Bears’ final eight games last season, including the Independence Bowl loss to Texas Tech. He completed 63 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and his best game came in the Big Game win at Stanford, where he was 24-for-36 for 294 yards, three scores and an interception.

Harris transferred in May from Ohio, where he stepped in for the end of the 2022 season and helped the Bobcats reach the Mid-American Conference championship game and win the Arizona Bowl. He opened last season as Ohio’s starter but left with an injury in Week 2 and missed the rest of the season.

Rogers started his career at Southern Mississippi, then spent time at Blinn College and Louisiana-Monroe before returning to FBS play at North Texas last season with 29 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He arrived in Berkeley last winter.

With barely a week left before the opener, here are five things we learned during fall camp:

TRANSFERS RULE AT WIDEOUT

The Bears’ wide receiver group, bolstered by a strong transfer class, is deeper, faster and more talented than a year ago. Junior Trond Grizzell, who evolved from a walk-on to the team’s top returning pass catcher, likely won’t even start.

Transfers Kyion Grayes (Ohio State), Tobias Merriweather (Notre Dame) and Mikey Matthews (Utah) have emerged as the first unit, although Merriweather and Matthews have missed some practice time with minor injuries.

Grizzell remains a factor, and the Bears also expect production from Mason Starling, Mavin Anderson and Nyziah Hunter.

KEEPING OTT HEALTHY

The coaching staff has limited star running back Jaydn Ott’s exposure to hits in live scrimmages, and he is expected to enter the season fully healthy. The pecking order behind him remains a bit muddled but Wilcox said he expects Old Dominion transfer Kadarius Calloway, Oakland native Jaivian Thomas and Byron Cardwell, formerly of Oregon, all to see game action.

O-LINE CAROUSEL

Players have been shuffled on the first-team offensive line, partly because staring right guard Sioape Vatikani has been out with an injury, and partly in an effort to create more depth and flexibility in the event of injuries during the season.

Redshirt freshman Nick Morrow, who played tight end and defensive end in high school, continues to impress at left tackle and is scheduled to start against Davis. Wilcox said the 6-foot-8, 305-pounder from Flagstaff, Arizona, has a high ceiling and the coaching staff will be patient as he learns the position.

VETERAN PASS RUSHERS

Outside linebackers David Reese and Xavier Carlton, who both finished last season strong and opted to utilize their seventh and fifth college seasons, respectively, have become leaders and should boost a pass rush that was erratic last season.

DEFENSIVE IMPORTS

After their worst defensive season in seven years under Wilcox, the Bears went heavy into the transfer portal in the offseason. Three defensive players — tackle T.J. Bollers (Wisconsin), inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan (UC Davis) and cornerback Marcus Harris (Idaho / Oregon State) appear to have won starting jobs. Inside linebacker Liam Johnson, a two-time First-Team All-Ivy pick and Defensive Player of the Year at Princeton, has been banged up but will see playing time when he becomes healthy.