The All-Pro NFL Cal Alumni Team
The All-Pro NFL Cal Alumni Team
The University of California, Berkeley has been the backseat passenger of the Pac-12 for the past decade. Though being a persistent understudy, Cal has produced quite a few leading men in the NFL.
Here's a condensed lineup of studs on both sides of the ball who have come from the best public university in the world.Â
QB: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
This is a no-brainer as the Super Bowl King, Mr. Rodgers, is dominating the neighborhood in 2011 to the tune of 2372 passing yards with 20 TD's to only 3 INT's. With targets like Jennings, Driver, Nelson, Jones and Finley the biggest challenge #12 has faced this year is choosing which open receiver to throw to.
RB: Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions
Although it was Marshawn Lynch who entered beast mode in the playoffs last season, it has been Best who has contributed more to a better team this season.
Though he's currently out with a concussion, Best has 677 all-purpose yards and 3 TD's in only 5 games.
With the fastest 40 time in the 2010 draft, in 2011 Best has been seeing more daylight than ever before in the Motor City.
WR: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
Speed is not the key aspect to DeSean Jackson— acceleration is. Considered undersized coming out of Cal, Jackson has proven all of his detractors wrong.
Going from zero to the end zone before you know it, Jackson is always a threat for six. With 487 yards and 2 TD's so far, #10 will be a big contributor if Philly turns this season around.
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons
With the 2nd most worn-out hands in NFL history, Tony G has caught 1,104 balls in his 13 and a half years in the league.
The former basketball stud for the Golden Bears has not shown any signs of slowing down, catching 4 TDs and amassing 380 yards already this season.
LB: Desmond Bishop, Green Bay Packers
After emerging last year as a worthy sidekick to Clay Matthews, Bishop has emerged in his own right during the playoffs last year and more so this season.
Already with 65 tackles, 3 sacks and a forced fumble, Bishop is becoming a cornerstone of the ever-improving Packers D in what is looking to be a career year.
CB: Nnamdi Asomugha, Philadelphia Eagles
The front page star of free-agency this summer struggled in the first several games this season adapting to the Eagles' zone-defense.
But in the past game he saw more familiar man-coverages and thrived, picking Tony Romo off and helping to hold the Cowboys to a mere 7 points on the day.
K: Ryan Longwell, Minnesota Vikings
The all-time points record holder for the Green-Bay Packers now plays for the enemy and hasn't regressed in the slightest in his 15 years in the NFL.
Showing plenty of leg left, Longwell has nailed all three attempts over 50 yards this season.