The California Golden Bears football team is preparing for the upcoming season with a tight ends group that features a mix of returning players, transfers, and a freshman recruit.
The roster includes Jeffrey Johnson and Ben Marshall as returnees. Johnson played in nine games last season and made two receptions for 13 yards. Marshall appeared in all 13 games off the bench during the previous season.
Two transfers have joined the unit: Mason Mini from Idaho and Landon Morris from Temple. Mini played in 12 games for Idaho in 2024, recording five catches for 61 yards. Morris participated in nine games at Temple, catching 16 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown.
Incoming freshman Jake Houseworth arrives from Fortuna Union High School in California. He was a multi-sport athlete who played both offense and defense and was rated as a consensus three-star recruit by On3, 247, ESPN, and Rivals.
Mike Saffell is entering his second season as the tight ends coach. “Saffell, who was a four-year letterwinner as an offensive lineman for the Golden Bears (2017-20), has spent the past four seasons on Cal’s football staff as a student coach (2021), graduate assistant (2022-23) and tight ends coach (2024-present).”
“Saffell played in 28 career games with 23 starts including all 17 Cal contests at center during his 2019 junior and 2020 senior campaigns.”
“Helped Cal to back-to-back bowl games with the Bears appearing at the Cheez-It Bowl in 2018 before knocking off Illinois at the 2019 Redbox Bowl to finish 8-5 overall.”
“Named the Pac-12’s Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a 2020 senior, as well as a team captain, and a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy and Wuerffel Trophy that are considered college football’s premier academic and community service awards, respectively.”
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