Cal defensive star reportedly entering transfer portal

Cal’s defensive captain could be leaving Berkeley as the Bears bring in a new coaching staff this offseason.

All-ACC linebacker Cade Uluave, who led the team with 100 tackles this season, will enter the transfer portal, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The junior captain has one year of eligibility left and is reportedly open to returning to Cal.

Uluave was fourth on the team in tackles as a freshman and second among the Bears last year as a sophomore.

His breakout game this season was a two-sack, 19-tackle performance in a double-overtime loss at Virginia Tech in October.

Cal has hired Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi to be its next head coach after firing Justin Wilcox, but he will remain with the Ducks through their College Football Playoff run, as the Ducks play a semifinal Friday against top-ranked Indiana.

Lupoi, a former Bears defensive lineman, traveled to Hawaii to meet with freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele immediately after his introductory press conference, and Sagapolutele confirmed his return to the Bears shortly thereafter.

Losing Uluave would be a second significant blow to the Bears’ linebacker corps after redshirt freshman Luke Ferrelli, Cal’s second-leading tackler in 2025 (91 total tackles), announced plans to enter the portal two days prior. Ferrelli was the ACC’s defensive freshman of the year, an award Uluave won in 2023.