Biography
Pronunciation
TAWN-jus
Tonges' Cal Career Game Highs
Receptions: 9 (at Oregon State, 2020)
Receiving Yards: 88 (at Ole Miss, 2019)
Receiving TDs: 1 (twice, last at Oregon State, 2020)
Long Reception: 60TD (at Ole Miss, 2019)
Tackles: 2 (vs. Oregon, 2018)
After Cal
• Played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 29, 2022, catching two passes for 27 yards for the American team in a 25-24 loss to the National squad
• Announced he was foregoing his final season of collegiate eligibility to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft on Jan. 6, 2022, after having previously entered the transfer portal on Dec. 9, 2021
Cal Career (2017-21)
• Played in 41 of 42 possible games with 23 starts over his final four seasons from 2018-21 after redshirting as a 2017 true freshman and recorded 47 receptions for 620 yards with four touchdowns, while also making five tackles
• Registered career highs of 11 starts, 22 catches, 278 yards receiving and two touchdown grabs as a 2021 senior, while his 13 games played, 20.2 yards per reception and three tackles during his 2019 sophomore campaign were career bests
Senior (2021)
• Played in 12 games with a career-high 11 starts and recorded career highs of 22 catches, 278 yards receiving and two touchdown grabs
• Cal's nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy given annually to the nation's top FBS player who began his career as a walk-on
• Nevada - 1 reception, 4 yards
• at TCU - 3 receptions, 56 yards
• Sacramento State - 2 receptions, 9 yards
• at Washington - 4 receptions, 19 yards, 1 TD ... tied career-high touchdown catches
• Washington State - participated
• at Oregon - 3 receptions, 34 yards, 1 TD, 15 long ... tied career-high touchdown catches
• Colorado - 2 receptions, 8 yards, 5 long
• Oregon State - participated
• at Arizona - 1 reception, 11 yards
• at Stanford - 1 reception, 11 yards
• USC - 1 reception, 39 yards
• Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
• No. 37 National Draft Eligible Tight End (Phil Steele)
Junior (2020)
• Played in all four games with three starts in a season shortened by COVID-19 and contributed 13 catches for 80 yards and one touchdown including a career-high nine catches and the touchdown at Oregon State, equaling a career best both for the season and a single game for the score, while he also had a season-long 33-yarder among the catches
Sophomore (2019)
• Played in a career-high all 13 games with nine starts including each of the team's last eight contests
• Recorded 13 catches, career highs of 262 yards receiving and 20.2 yards per reception that was also a team best, and one touchdown grab
• Did not have enough catches to qualify for the list of NCAA or Pac-12 leaders for yards per reception
• Touchdown came on a career-long 60-yarder at Ole Miss that was the longest Cal play from the line of scrimmage in 2019
• Eight of his 13 catches were explosive plays of 15+ yards while five were for more than 20 yards
• Also had three tackles and was a key special teams player
• Had a season-high-tying three receptions for a career-high 88 yards receiving including the 60-yarder for a touchdown at Ole Miss
• Equaled his season-high with three receptions for 65 yards in the Redbox Bowl against Illinois
• Picked up two receptions both vs. Oregon State (26 yards) and USC (23 yards)
• Had the first reception of his career with a 31-yard grab in the season-opener against UC Davis, while he also had single catches at Oregon (24 yards) and at Stanford (5 yards)
• Started his first career game at Washington and also played against North Texas, vs. Arizona State, at Utah, vs. Washington State and at UCLA but did not record any statistics other than participation in those contests
• Had single tackles against UC Davis and Oregon State, as well as at Stanford
• Played in the spring game but did not record any statistics other than participation
Freshman (2018)
• Played in each of the final 12 games all off the bench primarily on special teams and recorded a career-high two tackles against Oregon but did not record any other statistics other than participation
• Named a Jonathan and Judy Hoff Scholar-Athlete of the Week
• Played in the spring game but did not record any statistics other than participation
Freshman (2017)
• Redshirted
• Did not play
Los Gatos HS (Class Of 2017)
• A two-way player at tight end and defensive end who participated in 23 games as a 2015 junior and 2016 senior for teams that combined for a 15-8 overall record, 11-1 De Anza League mark and twice made the Central Coast Section Open Division 2 playoffs
• Contributed prep career totals of 46 receptions for 844 yards with eight touchdown grabs on offense, while he had 86 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks (-60 yards), two interceptions that he returned for 10 yards, five passes defended, one fumble recovery and three forced fumbles on defense, as well as two blocked kicks on special teams including one blocked punt and one blocked field goal
• Put up 43 receptions for 772 yards, seven touchdowns and a two-point receiving conversion on offense as a senior to earn All-SCVAL De Anza Division Most Valuable Offensive Player and Team MVP honors, while adding 57 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks (-60 yards), one interception that he returned for 10 yards, three passes defended and three caused fumbles defensively for a team that was 8-4 overall, won the De Anza League with a 6-0 conference record and reached the semifinals of the Central Coast Section Open Division 2 playoffs before having a seven-game win streak snapped by Archbishop Mitty
• Played in 11 games as a junior and contributed three catches for 72 yards and one touchdown on offense while posting 29 tackles, one interception, two passes defended and one fumble recovery to earn first-team All-SCVAL De Anza Division honors on defense, as well as two blocked kicks with one blocked punt and one blocked field goal for a squad that finished 7-4 overall, registered a 5-1 De Anza League mark and reached the opening round of the Central Coast Section Open Division 2 playoffs
• Also played one season of varsity basketball as a 2015-16 junior for a team that was 18-8 overall and reached the semifinals of the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs
• A quarterback as a freshman and sophomore before switching to tight end and defensive end
• Wore No. 10 in football and No. 11 in basketball
Other
• Born July 8, 1999
• Son of Tim and Erika Tonges
• Graduated from Cal in May of 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in American studies and added a graduate certificate in business administration in December of 2021
Last Updated
February 25, 2022
