CLEMSON — Though California is now in its third season of competing in the ACC, it’s likely most who are reading this are not very familiar with the Golden Bears.
And why would you?
Berkeley, Calif., where the University of California is located, is 2,596 miles away from Clemson. It’s not like this is a conference game.
Oh wait! Yes, it is.
In all seriousness, though, Friday’s 10:30 p.m., ET, kick off on the East Coast, will be an ACC game, and a big one at that, one that is a must win, or so it seems, for both teams.
With that said, here are three players on the Cal football team that you need to know about. If any of these three players have a big game, or if they all do, then it could be a long night for the Tigers.
Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele
Sagapolutele is one of the premiere quarterbacks in the country. As Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said, “If you want to see what an NFL quarterback looks like in college, then watch this kid on Friday night.”
Sagapolutele has thrown for 866 yards already this season, while throwing seven touchdowns with two interceptions. He is averaging 8.0 yards per attempt, while completing 66.7 percent of his passes (72-108).
A lefty, the sophomore stands 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. Though he is very athletic, Sagapolutele wants to stay in the pocket. He looks to pass first, even when things break down.
Because his offensive line is not very good, Sagapolutele will get the ball out of his hands fast, where he tries to get his playmakers the ball in space, such as wide receivers Ian Strong and Chase Hendricks.
Running back Adam Mohammed
Mohammed, like Sagapolutele, is a serious pro prospect at the running back position. At 6-foot, 220-pounds, he is a bruiser.
Though Cal’s offensive line continuously allows leaks along the front, causing Mohammed to often be hit in the backfield, he is still averaging 4.75 yards per carry. He generally sheds off the early would-be-tacklers and rolls for nearly five yards.
The junior’s longest run is 28 yards to this point. He has run for 285 yards in three games and has scored 3 TDs. He had two TDs in last week’s win over Wagner, and ran for 120 yards and scored a TD in the UCLA game.
Mohammed is also good at catching the football out of the backfield, where he has 14 catches already for 138 yards and a TD. He had a 65-yard TD reception in the Wagner game, as well. He had 7 catches for 46 yards against UCLA.
Safety Kingston Lopa
Lopa leads the nation with 5 interceptions from his strong safety position. One of those interceptions, he returned 24 yards for a TD in the Bears’ win at Syracuse in Week 2.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound junior has picked off a pass in every game so far this season. The Oregon transfer did not intercept a single pass in his two-years with the Ducks.
A physical player, who has a reputation for laying hard hits on opposing defenders, Lopa has 17 tackles through three games. He is part of a Cal secondary that is allowing just 5.6 yards per attempt, while offenses are completing just 51.4 percent of their passes, which is tied for first in the ACC.