California Golden Bears Athletics
Jack Plummer, left, and Kai Millner have come to Cal from the same hometown.
Photo by: Andrew Madsen/KLC Fotos
A Lot In Common
5/3/2022 9:00 AM | Football, Inside The Lair
Cal Quarterbacks Jack Plummer And Kai Miller First Met A Decade Ago
The two signal-callers who got the majority of the reps in Cal's quarterback competition this spring have a lot more in common than vying for the Golden Bears' starting job in 2022. Both have self-described "laid back" personalities but are fierce competitors with tremendous work ethic who believe in leading by example. They also have a mutual respect for each other and want to earn the respect of their teammates, as well as the team's starting quarterback gig.
Jack Plummer and Kai Millner first met about a decade ago as pupils of the same local quarterbacks coach while growing up in Gilbert, Arizona. Plummer was about to start high school while Millner was testing the middle school waters the first time.
"He was a little kid who could barely hold the football when I first met him and then all of a sudden he had a huge growth spurt," Plummer said. "I remember the first summer I came back home from Purdue how much he had grown."
"I remember Jack always being a big, tall lanky dude," Millner said. "He was definitely a guy that I looked up to in high school and my early years. Jack is a really smart guy who knows a lot about the game. He is a good teacher and someone that I have talked to and worked with to become a better quarterback."
Plummer and Millner both starred in the same town as preps with Plummer throwing for 6,913 yards and 69 touchdowns over three varsity seasons at Gilbert High School, while Millner followed with two-year passing totals of 4,564 yards and 46 touchdowns at nearby Higley.
Both earned scholarships to FBS programs with Plummer beginning his four seasons at Purdue in 2018 and Millner joining Cal out of high school in 2021.
When Plummer grad transferred to Cal this past January. their paths crossed again. Although both want to be the starter in the fall, they are competing with the mutual respect they have for one another and a knowledge that the competition is going to make both them and the team better.
"It's good to see Kai make plays because it makes me want to make plays, too," Plummer said. "I'm trying to teach him some things because I have a little bit of experience. Kai's a good guy and I'd like to help him."
"We're both competitors, but that's not going to change our relationship off the field," Millner added. "We are going to work together, we're going to talk, and we're still really good friends. When we got on the field, we're working together but we're also competing. I think that makes us better. We push each other and that's great for both of us, the offense and the entire team."
Cal's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave liked what he saw this spring from two players who have yet to play in a game for the Bears and are looking to replace four-year starter Chase Garbers.
"Both of them lead the team really well," Musgrave said. "We're comfortable with both."
Cal's Travers Family Head Football Coach Justin Wilcox has emphasized that he doesn't want to put a time stamp on naming a starter.
"Naming a starter is not really on the list right now," Wilcox said. "It's not really something we have on our calendar where we need to make an announcement on a certain date. I don't think that's really helpful to anybody. We're focused on those guys getting better and comfortable in the offense, and when it's time we'll make an announcement."
Cal's offense will be in the good hands of a capable leader whoever takes the first snap in September.
Jack Plummer and Kai Millner first met about a decade ago as pupils of the same local quarterbacks coach while growing up in Gilbert, Arizona. Plummer was about to start high school while Millner was testing the middle school waters the first time.
"He was a little kid who could barely hold the football when I first met him and then all of a sudden he had a huge growth spurt," Plummer said. "I remember the first summer I came back home from Purdue how much he had grown."
"I remember Jack always being a big, tall lanky dude," Millner said. "He was definitely a guy that I looked up to in high school and my early years. Jack is a really smart guy who knows a lot about the game. He is a good teacher and someone that I have talked to and worked with to become a better quarterback."
Plummer and Millner both starred in the same town as preps with Plummer throwing for 6,913 yards and 69 touchdowns over three varsity seasons at Gilbert High School, while Millner followed with two-year passing totals of 4,564 yards and 46 touchdowns at nearby Higley.
Both earned scholarships to FBS programs with Plummer beginning his four seasons at Purdue in 2018 and Millner joining Cal out of high school in 2021.
When Plummer grad transferred to Cal this past January. their paths crossed again. Although both want to be the starter in the fall, they are competing with the mutual respect they have for one another and a knowledge that the competition is going to make both them and the team better.
"It's good to see Kai make plays because it makes me want to make plays, too," Plummer said. "I'm trying to teach him some things because I have a little bit of experience. Kai's a good guy and I'd like to help him."
"We're both competitors, but that's not going to change our relationship off the field," Millner added. "We are going to work together, we're going to talk, and we're still really good friends. When we got on the field, we're working together but we're also competing. I think that makes us better. We push each other and that's great for both of us, the offense and the entire team."
Cal's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave liked what he saw this spring from two players who have yet to play in a game for the Bears and are looking to replace four-year starter Chase Garbers.
"Both of them lead the team really well," Musgrave said. "We're comfortable with both."
Cal's Travers Family Head Football Coach Justin Wilcox has emphasized that he doesn't want to put a time stamp on naming a starter.
"Naming a starter is not really on the list right now," Wilcox said. "It's not really something we have on our calendar where we need to make an announcement on a certain date. I don't think that's really helpful to anybody. We're focused on those guys getting better and comfortable in the offense, and when it's time we'll make an announcement."
Cal's offense will be in the good hands of a capable leader whoever takes the first snap in September.
Players Mentioned
Monday, August 29
Saturday, August 13
Thursday, May 08
Wednesday, April 30
