Cal QB Ben Finley Available for Bowl, but LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, WR Taj Davis Are Not
Cal will have Ben Finley available as a backup quarterback for the Independence Bowl even though he has entered the transfer portal, but inside linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr and wide receiver Taj Davis are no longer on the roster for Saturday's game against Texas Tech.
Cal on Tuesday released its depth chart for Saturday's Independence Bowl, and it revealed which Golden Bears players who have entered the transfer portal will be available for Cal and which ones won't.
Justin Wilcox has said last week that some Cal players in the transfer portal would remain with the team for the bowl games, and that's the case.
Quarterback Ben Finley has entered the transfer portal, but he is listed as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart behind Fernando Mendoza, so Finley apparently will be on the Bears' bench Saturday and would play if something happens to Mendoza.
Finley started three games for the Bears and was the backup over the second half of the season.
Quarterback Sam Jackson V, who entered the transfer portal this week, is not on the depth chart, so apparently will not be with the team in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Also, Cal place-kicker Mateen Bhaghani has entered the transfer portal, but he is listed as the Bears' No. 1 place-kicker on the depth chart, so he will be doing the kicking for Cal in the bowl game.
Finally, offensive lineman Brayden Rhome is listed as a backup at offensive tackle even though he is in the portal.
However, four key Cal players are not listed on the depth chart and will not be with the team on Saturday.
Inside linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, who was named to the Associated Press second-team All-Pac-12 squad, is in the transfer portal and is not listed on the depth chart, so he will not play. That is a significant loss since he is third in the Pac-12 in tackles per game. Either Nate Rutchena or Sergio Allen will start in Elarms-Orr's place alongside freshman Cade Uluave, who has been outstanding since joining the starting lineup at midseason.
Cal wide receiver Taj Davis is not on the roster for the bowl game either, and it's unclear whether he plans to transfer or is skipping the bowl game to prepare for the 2024 NFL draft. He has not entered the transfer portal yet but apparently has another year of college eligibility. Davis was a starter for Cal for much of the season and is second on the team in receptions (39) and third in both receiving yards (399) and touchdown receptions (3).
Also, wide receiver Brian Hightower, who had 10 catches for 101 yards this season, is not on the roster, but he had announced previously that he would skip the bowl game to prepare for the 2024 NFL draft.
Jeremiah Hunter, Trond Grizzell and Monroe Young are listed as the three starting wide receivers on this week's Golden Bears depth chart.
The other key absence is defensive back Jeremy Earby. He has entered the transfer portal after being an important member of the secondary the past two seasons, even though he was not a starter. But he is not on this week's depth chart.
"Guys got to make decisions based on what's best for them," Wilcox said Tuesday. "We talked through that. Some guys we welcomed to join us for the bowl game and glad to have them, and other guys felt it best to move on, I understand that, and we're glad they're with is for the bowl game."
Injury Update
Backup running back Isaiah Ifanse missed the final three games of the regular season with an undisclosed injury, but Wilcox said Tuesday that Ifanse might be able to play in the Independence Bow. He is listed as "day-to-day" and Wilcox said the evaluation would go right up until game day.
Freshman running back Jaivian Thomas, who sustained a scary injury in the November 4 game against Oregon that caused him to hospitalized briefly, will be available to play in the Independence Bowl.
Defensive lineman Ethan Saunders will be play in the bowl game due to injury, and defensive lineman Stanley Saole-McKenzie is practicing but remains questionable for Saturday's contest
Cover photo of Ben Finley is by Darren Yamashita, USA TODAY Sports
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