BERKELEY – Head coach Justin Wilcox announced the first 18 members of Cal's 2018 recruiting class to sign National Letters of Intent on the opening day of college football's newly established early signing period Wednesday.

"The first members of this class give us a really good foundation for what we are building," Wilcox said. "The type of student-athlete we want at Cal is smart and tough. We want student-athletes that will play football at a high level and also succeed in the classroom at the top public institution in the world. The student-athletes we signed to National Letters of Intent today have made both athletics and academics a priority. They want to put in the work and do what it takes to succeed and lift this program to a new level both on and off the field."

The class has a strong local flavor with 15 members either hailing from California or playing their football in the Golden State in 2017.

"There are a large number of student-athletes in our own geographic footprint in this recruiting class that fit our profile athletically and academically, and we had a lot of success attracting many of them to Cal," Wilcox said. "Being successful recruiting your backyard is important for so many reasons. There are so many Cal alumni in our area that want to support our program and our student-athletes when they attend Cal, and having student-athletes from their communities in our program will help them connect with our university."

Champions were also plentiful throughout the class with 13 winning at least one league title during their high school career and eight picking up one section crown or more. Running back Johnny Adams Jr. (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis HS) and wide receiver Nikko Remigio (Orange, CA/Mater Dei HS) were key members of state championships teams as 2017 seniors, while offensive lineman Miles Owens (Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) contributed to a state champ as a 2016 junior.

"Recruiting players that come from winning programs and know how to win is important," Wilcox said. "They will help us to build and maintain a winning culture."

The class had an emphasis on the offensive line with the Golden Bears signing five of the nation's top-100 ranked tackles in Matthew Cindric (Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS), Will Craig (Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS), Jasper Friis (Starnberg, Germany/Aquinas HS), Brandon Mello (Clayton, CA/Clayton Valley Charter HS) and Owens.

Craig checks in as the highest ranked among the group as the nation's No. 13 offensive tackle according to Rivals followed by Mello (No. 57, Rivals), Friis (No. 75, 247Sports), Owens (No. 92, 247Sports Composite, ESPN) and Cindric (No. 98, 247Sports Composite).

"We were able to put together a group of offensive linemen in this class that we believe will provide us with a solid foundation for years to come," Wilcox said. "Having strong play on the offensive line is such a critical component of success."

The Bears also picked up a pair of highly-rated running backs to run behind the offensive line in Adams and Christopher Brown Jr. (Oceanside, CA/El Camino HS).

Adams is the nation's No. 12 all-purpose running back according to Rivals and earned IndyStar Mr. Football team honors at his position as a 2017 senior when he rushed for 1424 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Brown, who is listed as the nation's No. 12 overall running back by 247Sports, combined for career totals of 3249 rushing yards and 34 scores on the ground over 529 carries.

Cal picked up another pair of playmakers among the nation's top 50 at their respective positions in ESPN's No. 9 tight end McCallan Castles (South Lake Tahoe, CA/South Tahoe HS) and Remigio, rated as high as the No. 43 wide receiver in the country by 247Sports.

Castles, who is the nation's No. 9 tight end according to ESPN, combined for 102 catches, 2027 yards receiving and 27 touchdown receptions in his final two prep seasons.

Remigio was a key contributor as a 2017 senior for the nation's top-ranked team who won its third mythical national title in addition to Open Division State, CIF Southern Section and Trinity League crowns while finishing a three-year record of 38-4 during his era. A two-time All-Trinity League choice in his junior and senior campaigns, Remigio combined for three-year career totals of 111 receptions, 1695 yards receiving, 19 touchdown catches and 2224 all-purpose yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, four players in the class are listed as linebackers in Nick Alftin (Woodside, CA/Archbishop Mitty HS), Louie Bickett (San Diego, CA/Torrey Pines HS), Colt Doughty (Los Gatos, CA/College of San Mateo) and JH Tevis (Piedmont, CA/Menlo School).

"It's always important to have good numbers at linebacker," Wilcox said. "This group will help solidify our depth at the position and I'm looking for them to develop into impact players."

Doughty is the most experienced of the group having combined for 405 tackles over the last four seasons including 177 tackles in his most two recent campaigns at the College of San Mateo, where he earned first-team All-American honors and was the Bay 6 Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a 2017 sophomore. He was also the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year as a high school senior in 2015 when he made 137 tackles. Doughty is the No. 2 junior college inside linebacker in the nation according to both 247Sports Composite and ESPN.

Alftin (112 tackles, 31.0 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks), Bickett (318 tackles, 33.0 sacks, 14.0 sacks) and Tevis (283 tackles, 105.0 tackles for loss, 51.0 sacks) all had impressive high school numbers. Tevis was the Peninsula League's Ocean Division Player of the Year as a 2017 senior after earning the league's Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors the previous two seasons. Bickett was the Avocado League's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior while Alftin was a first-team West Catholic Athletic League selection in his final prep campaign.

Evan Tattersall (Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) is being recruited as an athlete with high school experience at both linebacker and fullback as well as special teams prowess. Tattersall earned first-team All-Sierra Foothill League honors on both sides of the ball in his senior season. He finished his career with 127 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks on the defensive side of the ball while combining to rush for 962 yards and 19 touchdowns on 205 carries on offense during his junior and senior seasons.

The remainder of the defensive players in the class includes first-team junior college All-American DL Lone Toailoa (Auckland New Zealand), two-time Trinity League Defensive MVP DL Aaron Maldonado (La Puente, CA/Bishop Amat HS), DB Chigozie Anusiem (La Habra, CA/Sonora HS) and the nation's top long snapper in Slater Zellers (Scottsdale, AZ/Notre Dame Prep).

The four mid-year enrollees in the class that will join the Bears in January are Anusiem, Doughty, Friis and Toailoa. The remainder of the class is scheduled to arrive on campus during the summer prior to the 2018 season.

The class is ranked was high as fourth in the Pac-12 by 247Sports Composite and No. 33 nationally according to Rivals at the beginning of the first day of the early signing period that continues through Friday. The regular signing period kicks off with National Signing Day on February 7, 2018.

Five members of the class – Anusiem (Rivals), Brown (247Sports), Castles (ESPN), Craig (247Sports, 247Sports Composite, ESPN, Rivas) and Remigio (247Sports, 247Sports Composite, Rivals) – have been given four recruiting stars by at least one organization.

The class breakdown includes nine offensive players, seven defensive players, one athlete and one specialist.

"This was a good start for us to have 18 student-athletes sign National Letters of Intent today," Wilcox said. "We are excited about the group we have inked today, but we still have several spots open and are looking forward to adding more talented student-athletes to it."

Cal will kick off the 2018 season Sept. 1 against North Carolina with the first of seven home games at California Memorial Stadium.

Call 1-800-GO-BEARS (extension 3) to place your 2018 season ticket deposit.

2018 Cal Football Recruiting Class (as of December 20, 2017)

NAME – POS – HT – WT – YR – EXP – HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOL)
Johnny Adams Jr. – RB – 5-10 – 195 – Fr. – HS – Indianapolis, IN (Ben Davis HS)
Nick Alftin – OLB – 6-5 – 240 – Fr. – HS – Woodside, CA (Archbishop Mitty HS)
Chigozie Anusiem – DB – 6-1 – 180 – Fr. – HS – La Habra, CA (Sonora HS)
Louie Bickett – LB – 6-4 – 215 – Fr. – HS – San Diego, CA (Torrey Pines HS)
Christopher Brown Jr. – RB – 6-1 – 220 – Fr. – HS – Oceanside, CA (El Camino HS) –
McCallan Castles – TE – 6-5 – 235 – Fr. – HS – South Lake Tahoe, CA (South Tahoe HS)
Matthew Cindric – OL – 6-4 – 270 – Fr. – HS – Sammamish, WA (Skyline HS)
Will Craig – OL – 6-5 – 270 – Fr. – HS – Granite Bay, CA (Granite Bay HS)
Colt Doughty – LB – 6-1 – 235 – Jr. – JC – Los Gatos, CA (College of San Mateo)
Jasper Friis – OL – 6-7 – 315 – Fr. – HS – Starnberg, Germany (Aquinas HS)
Aaron Maldonado – DL – 6-3 – 295 – Fr. – HS – La Puente, CA (Bishop Amat HS)
Brandon Mello – OL – 6-6 – 285 – Fr. – HS – Clayton, CA (Clayton Valley Charter HS)
Miles Owens – OL – 6-6 – 320 – Fr. – HS – Oakland, CA (Bishop O'Dowd HS)
Nikko Remigio – WR – 5-10 – 170 – Fr. – HS – Orange, CA (Mater Dei HS)
Evan Tattersall – ATH – 6-2 – 225 – Fr. – HS – Granite Bay, CA (Granite Bay HS)
JH Tevis – OLB – 6-3 – 225 – Fr. – HS – Piedmont, CA (Menlo School)
Lone Toailoa – DL – 6-2 – 265 – Jr. – JC – Auckland, New Zealand (Mt. San Antonio College)
Slater Zellers – LS – 6-1 – 210 – Fr. – HS – Scottsdale, AZ (Notre Dame Prep HS)

2018 Cal Football Recruiting Mini-Bios

Johnny Adams Jr., RB, 5-10, 195, Fr., HS, Indianapolis, IN (Ben Davis HS)
Adams earned IndyStar Mr. Football honors for the running back position as a 2017 senior when he rushed for 1,424 yards and 16 touchdowns on a squad that finished the season ranked as MaxPreps' top team in Indiana, No. 5 in the Xcellent 25 Rank and No. 11 nationally after going 14-0 overall and 7-0 in Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference action to win the Indiana 6A state, regional, section and league crowns. He is ranked as high as the nation's No. 12 all-purpose running back according to Rivals and checks in as the No. 25 running back overall by 247Sports Composite.

Nick Alftin, OLB, 6-5, 240, Fr., HS, Woodside, CA (Archbishop Mitty HS)
Alftin combined for 112 tackles, 31.0 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks (-85 yards) and 35 quarterback hurries during his three high school varsity campaigns with similar single-season numbers during as both a 2016 junior and 2017 senior. He earned first-team All-West Catholic Athletic League honors in his final campaign and is ranked as high as the nation's No. 39 strong-side defensive end according to 247Sports Composite. Alftin was also an All-WCAL selection in volleyball and has a sister, Christine Alftin, who spent four seasons as a player for the Cal volleyball squad from 2014-17.

Chigozie Anusiem, DB, 6-1, 180, Fr., HS, La Habra, CA (Sonora HS)
Anusiem was a two-way player as a cornerback and receiver in high school who had career totals of 139 tackles, five interceptions, 28 passes defended and three forced fumbles on defense while catching 51 passes for 1151 yards and 13 touchdowns. Anusiem will begin his Cal career as a defensive back as a mid-year enrollee in January. He is a four-star recruit and rated as highly as the No. 36 cornerback in the nation according to Rivals, while his highest safety rating is No. 40 by 247Sports Composite. Anusiem is a first-generation American with both of his parents born in Nigeria.

Louie Bickett, LB, 6-4, 215, Fr., HS, San Diego, CA (Torrey Pines HS)
Bickett totaled 318 tackles, 33.0 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks and five interceptions during three varsity campaigns. He had his most productive season as a 2017 senior when he was the Avocado League Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-CIF San Diego Section after totaling 127 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He ranks as high as the nation's No. 60 outside linebacker according to 247Sports.

Christopher Brown Jr., RB, 6-1, 220, Fr., HS, Oceanside, CA (El Camino HS)
Brown combined for 3249 yards rushing and 34 scores on the ground over 529 carries during the final three seasons of his four-year varsity career. He had three campaigns of over 800 yards rushing with his biggest numbers as a 2016 junior when he rushed 221 times for 1442 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, staring the season with nine consecutive 100-yard rushing games. His final prep team as a 2017 senior won its first CIF San Diego Section crown in 18 years and reached the state semifinals. Brown is rated as high as the nation's No. 12 running back according to 247Sports.

McCallan Castles, TE, 6-5, 235, Fr., HS, South Lake Tahoe, CA (South Tahoe HS)
Castles combined for 102 catches, 2027 yards receiving and 27 touchdown receptions in his final two prep seasons at South Tahoe High School after transferring from Berthoud High School in Colorado. Castles put up his biggest numbers as a 2016 junior when he had career highs and school records of 65 receptions, 1193 yards receiving and 16 touchdown catches to earn second-team All-State and first-team 3A All-Northern Nevada honors for a team that reached the NIAA Class 3A Nevada state semifinals. The three-sport standout has also excelled at basketball and in the high jump. He is a four-star recruit and the nation's No. 9 tight end according to ESPN.

Matthew Cindric, OL, 6-4, 270, Fr., HS, Sammamish, WA (Skyline HS)
Cindric was the KingCo League Lineman of the Year and a first-team all-state, all-area and all-conference offensive tackle as a 2017 senior. He was also a first-team all-league selection on defense as a senior recording 48 tackles, 13.0 sacks (-89 yards, 9.0 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery that he returned 57 yards for a touchdown. In addition, the two-way starter on the offensive and defensive lines served as the team's long snapper for three seasons and was a team captain in each of his final two campaigns. He is a four-star recruit and the nation's No. 98 offensive tackle according to 247Sports.

Will Craig, OL, 6-5, 270, Fr., HS, Granite Bay, CA (Granite Bay HS)
Craig was named the top offensive lineman in the CIF Division II Sac-Joaquin section as a 2017 senior by the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Half of Fame as well as the Sierra Foothill League Lineman of the Year. He also earned first-team All-SFL honors on the offensive line for a team that finished 12-3 overall, won the CIF Division II Sac-Joaquin section title and were the NorCal runner up. Craig played both ways on the offensive and defensive lines in his final two campaigns as a 2016 junior and 2017 senior, also earning first-team All-Sierra Foothill League recognition as a junior. Craig is a consensus four-star recruit who ranks as high as the nation's No. 13 offensive tackle and No. 196 player overall according to Rivals.

Colt Doughty, LB, 6-1, 235, Jr., JC, Los Gatos, CA (College of San Mateo/Los Gatos HS)
Doughty will arrive at Cal as a mid-year enrollee in January after incredibly productive high school and junior college careers in which he combined for 405 tackles over the last four campaigns. Doughty was most recently at the College of San Mateo for his 2016 freshman and 2017 sophomore collegiate seasons, where he had 177 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss (-53 yards) and 3.0 sacks (-17 yards). Doughty was a first-team All-American and Bay 6 Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore for a squad that reached California Community College state championship game. He led the team in tackles as both a freshman and sophomore, as well as the Bay 6 Conference during his freshman season. Doughty was also the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year as a 2015 high school senior when he had 137 of his 228 career prep tackles. He is the nation's No. 2 junior college inside linebacker according to 247Sports Composite and ESPN.

Jasper Friis, OL, 6-7, 315, Fr., HS, Starnberg, Germany (Aquinas HS)
Friis picked up American football while living in Germany and has two seasons of experience in the game at the prep level after coming to the United States and enrolling at Aquinas High School in 2016 in order to pursue the sport. In his second high school season, he earned first-team All-Ambassador League recognition for a team that finished 14-1 overall and reached the California 2-A semifinals after winning CIF Section Division 9 and conference titles. He is ranked as high as the nation's No. 75 offensive tackle according to 247Sports. Friis will be a mid-year enrollee at Cal and join the football program in January.

Aaron Maldonado, DL, 6-3, 295, Fr., HS, La Puente, CA (Bishop Amat HS)
Maldonado was selected as the Mission League Defensive Most Valuable Player in each of his final prep two campaigns as a 2016 junior and 2017 senior. He ended his prep career with totals of 162 tackles, 26.0 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal that also included a second-team All-Mission League selection as a 2015 sophomore. All three of Maldonado's teams played in the postseason with his sophomore squad also taking a share of the Mission League crown. He is rated as highly as the nation's No. 45 defensive tackle according to ESPN.

Brandon Mello, OL, 6-7, 285, Fr., HS, Clayton, CA (Clayton Valley Charter HS)
Mello earned first-team All-Diablo Valley Athletic League Foothill Division honors as a 2017 senior when he helped pave the way for a team that averaged 334.0 yards rushing per game after he was a starter for a 2016 junior squad that checked in with an average of 315.2 yards per contest. His squad reached the North Coast Section both seasons before falling to perennial powerhouse and NorCal champion De La Salle each time. Mello is ranked as high as the nation's No. 57 offensive tackle according to Rivals.

Miles Owens, OL, 6-6, 320, Fr., HS, Oakland, CA (Bishop O'Dowd HS)
Owens is a three-sport standout in football, basketball and track and field who was on a pair of teams that combined for a 24-4 overall record as a 2016 junior and 2017 senior. His junior squad won Division 5-AA State, North Coast Section and West Alameda County Conference Foothill Division titles while finishing 15-1 overall before his senior team added another WACC's Foothill Division crown. Owens blocked for a team as a senior that averaged 380.6 yards of total offense per game including 214.9 yards on the ground while his junior squad averaged 329.6 yards per game of total offense and an average of 189.2 on the ground. Owens is ranked as high as the nation's No. 92 offensive tackle according to 247Sports Composite and ESPN.

Nikko Remigio, WR, 5-10, 170, Fr., HS, Orange, CA (Mater Dei HS)
Remigio was a key contributor as a 2017 senior to the nation's top-ranked team who won its third mythical national title in addition to Open Division California State, CIF Southern Section and Trinity League crowns while compiling a three-year record of 38-4. Remigio was a two-time All-Trinity League choice in his junior and senior seasons that combined for three-year career totals of 111 receptions, 1695 yards receiving, 19 touchdown catches and 2224 all-purpose yards. Remigio is a four-star recruit of 247Sports, 247Sports Composite and Rivals, while rating as high as the nation's No. 39 receiver and No. 250 player overall according to 247Sports.

Evan Tattersall, ATH, 6-2, 225, Fr., HS, Granite Bay, CA (Granite Bay HS)
Tattersall stood out just about everywhere during his prep career, earned first-team All-Sierra Foothill League honors on both sides of the ball as a senior. He was also one of the program's top special teams players and displayed his prowess in the weight room by breaking nearly all of the school's lifting records. His final prep squad registered a 12-3 overall mark and won the Division II Sac-Joaquin Section title before finishing as NorCal runner up. Tattersall was also a first-team All-SFL selection on offense as a junior as well as a two-time All-Sacramento Valley League pick in lacrosse as a 2016 sophomore and 2017 junior. Tattersall ranks as high as the nation's No. 50 outside linebacker according to 247Sports.

JH Tevis, OLB, 6-3, 225, Fr., HS, Piedmont, CA (Menlo School)
Tevis put up huge high school numbers including 283 tackles, 105.0 tackles for loss, 51.0 sacks (-138 yards), four pass breakups, four fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles and 40 quarterback hurries during three varsity campaigns. He was named the Player of the Year in the Peninsula Athletic League's Ocean Division as a 2017 senior when he had 79 tackles, 32.0 tackles for loss and 14.0 sacks after earning Defensive Player of the Year recognition in the league as a 2016 junior when he had 125 tackles, 50.0 tackles for loss and a school-record 22.5 sacks that led all players in California and ranked fifth nationally. Tevis ranks as high as nation's No. 57 strong-side defensive end according to 247Sports.

Lone Toailoa, DL, 6-2, 265, Jr., JC, Auckland, New Zealand (Mt. San Antonio College)
Toailoa will be playing his third season of American football when he arrives at Cal as a mid-year enrollee in January of 2018. After playing rugby in high school in his native New Zealand, he moved to the United States to pursue his football dreams and after redshirting as a true freshman in 2015 began to come into his own in his first season on the field when he earned first-team All-American, All-State and All-SCFA National Division Central League honors as a 2016 redshirt freshman at Mt. San Antonio College. Toailoa added second-team All-SCFA National Division Central League honors as a 2017 sophomore.

Slater Zellers, LS, 6-1, 210, Fr., HS, Scottsdale, AZ (Notre Dame Prep HS)
Zellers earned Under Armour All-American honors among a host of awards and was the nation's top-rated long snapper according to ESPN and Kohl's Professional Camps as a 2017 senior for a team that finished 13-1 overall, reached the 5A Arizona State Championship Game, won the Northeast Valley Region title and finished as MaxPreps' No. 9 overall team in the state of Arizona.