BERKELEY – Senior inside linebacker Evan Weaver was named a first-team preseason All-American by Athlon on Wednesday. Weaver is the first Cal player selected as a first-team All-American since running back Jahvid Best was a preseason first-team pick prior to the 2009 campaign.

Below are notes on Weaver with an extended bio available by clicking on his name.

ALL-AMERICAN (FIRST-TEAM)

Evan Weaver, ILB, 6-3, 245, Sr., 3L, Spokane, WA (Gonzaga Prep)
Cal Career (2016 – Present)
• Has played in 36 of 37 possible games with 17 starts since his arrival at Cal in 2016 and posted career totals highlighted by 230 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss (-52 yards), 6.0 sacks (-35 yards) and two interceptions that he has returned for 47 yards and one touchdown on a career-long 37-yard return against Washington as a 2018 junior
• Cal's active career leader in tackles who will begin the 2019 campaign 29 stops shy of the school's all-time top 10 list
Senior (2019)
• First-team (Athlon) and second-team (Phil Steele) preseason All-American
• First-team preseason All-Pac-12 (Athlon Sports, Phil Steele)
• One of 42 student-athletes on the watch list for the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy that goes annually to the nation's top defensive player
Junior (2018)
• Second-team All-American (Pro Football Focus)
• First-team (Associated Press, Pro Football Focus) and second-team (Athlon, Pac-12 Coaches, Phil Steele) All-Pac-12
• Recipient of Cal's Bear Backers Award as the team's Co-Most Valuable Defensive Player
• Recorded career highs of 159 tackles to rank tied for second on Cal's all-time single-season list, 9.5 tackles for loss (-42 yards), 4.5 sacks (-28 yards), and two interceptions that he returned for 47 yards and his lone career touchdown
• Tied for fifth nationally with 6.4 solo tackles per game and eighth in total tackles with 11.9 per contest