Wilcox's Honesty Helped Bring QB Chandler Rogers to Cal

Day 1 of the Rogers-Mendoza quarterback competition was Monday in the Bears' first spring practice

Chandler Rogers almost transferred to Cal last year, and the honesty of Cal coach Justin Wilcox helped bring Rogers to Berkeley this year after spending the 2023 season at North Texas.

"A lot of coaches lie," Rogers said Monday, the first day of spring practice, "and coach Wilcox was very honest. And I like honesty."

Wilcox did not guarantee Rogers the starting quarterback job heading into the Bears' first season in the ACC, but he did offer him a chance to compete for that spot with returning Cal starter Fernando Mendoza.

That quarterback competition began Monday, although it's far too early to say either one has a leg up.  Rogers looked good throwing intermediate and deep passes Monday, although he did have one pass intercepted in offense-vs-defense non-contact drills.

"Able to make every single throw as well as my running ability," Rogers said when describing his assets.

The Cal offensive system is similar to what North Texas ran last year, except North Texas almost never used a tight end, while Cal makes extensive use of the tight end and often uses two-tight end sets.

But Rogers has already played in two offensive systems, and should be able to adapt to a third.

Experience may be Rogers greatest asset. He has played in 36 games for FBS schools (Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas), and he started 29 of those games.  Rogers started 10 games for North Texas last season when he threw 29 touchdown passes with five interceptions.

Meanwhile, Mendoza started the final eight games last season when he was a redshirt freshman, when he threw 14 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.

So new quarterbacks coach Sterlin Gilbert, who replaced Jake Spavital, sees experience as the main asset at the quarterback position.

"They played a lot of ball, that's the one thing about both of them," Gilbert said. "They've got quite a bit of experience under their belts, especially Chandler. Chandler's an older guy. Athletic ability -- similar."

Rogers is 22 years old, and Mendoza is 20.

Mendoza said he's a little bigger and a little fast than he was a year ago.  

"I'd say I was playing around 210 last year, and now I'm around 224, 225," he said.

He also said he is faster, having been timed at 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash three weeks ago. He was not timed in the 40 a year ago but claims his top game speed last year was 19.2 miles an hour compared with 20.3 miles per hour this year.

The main thing is Mendoza knows he belongs at this level, something he was not sure of  last spring.

"Last year, to be honest, I was little frantic and nervous," he said. "I didn't know what the future held for me. I didn't know my capabilities. At that point I was just trying to prove to people that I belonged in the program, as a quarterback able to be a starter one day."

What was his reaction to the news that Rogers was transferring to Cal?

"I thought it was great," he said. "Chandler's a great guy. Everybody gets best in the mist of competition."

Despite their game experience, the one thing both Mendoza and Rogers must get accustomed to is having plays sent in verbally from offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch by way of a microphone to an audio receiver in the quarterback's helmet.

"I've been wanting to work with it because I feel it's easier to hear the play call, especially with going through the season you have to change signals constantly," Rogers said.

The quarterback competition is ongoing.  It's unlikely a starting quarterback will be named in the spring, with the choice expected to come in fall camp before the opener against UC Davis.

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