Cal Football: Craig Woodson, Xavier Carlton Will Return for 2024 Season

Two of the Bears' most productive defensive players will remain with the program.

Cal football got confirmation Saturday that two productive regulars from its defense will be back next season.

Safety Craig Woodson and outside linebacker Xavier Carlton both announced on social media their plans to return to the team in 2024 when the Bears begin play in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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Woodson, a native of Grand Prairie, Texas, will be a sixth-year player next fall. He announced his plans quite succinctly: “Why not one more,” he wrote on Twitter.

Carlton, a Modesto native who will play his fifth year of college ball and his third at Cal, said, “Run It Back” on Twitter, adding, “Cal Nation, Leet’s run it back one more time and so something special in the ACC!”

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Woodson, a two-year starter, was third on the team this season with 79 tackles. He also had 3.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, an interception and two forced fumbles.

He had back-to-back games this season with 12 tackles against USC and a career-high 15 vs. Oregon.

The 6-foot, 210-pounder has 154 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, nine pass breakups and three forced fumbles over the past two seasons.

Carlton had 49 tackles this season, including 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 of them sacks. He added five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. The 6-6, 270-pounder enjoyed his most productive game of the season at UCLA, including 1.5 sacks among eight tackles as the Bears won to clinch bowl eligibility.

Carlton also had 4.5 sacks a year ago after spending his first two college seasons at Utah.

Cover photo of Craig Woodson courtesy of Instagram

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo