Cal Football: 2013 Recruiting Targets Still Available

The 2012 recruiting season may have just wrapped up, but it's never too early to start talking about what's in store for 2013.

Cal will look to improve from a year ago with another impressive class of prospects.

Let's examine five players who are still on the table for 2013 that the Bears are actively pursuing.

All Stanton has done during his high school career is win.

The junior gunslinger's most recent accomplishment was leading his Santa Margarita High School team to a 13-2 record and a California Interscholastic Federation Division 1 State Championship in 2011.

The dual threat quarterback currently only holds three offers from Air Force and Washington in addition to Cal but the Bears may have the upper edge thanks to an interesting connection Stanton, or rather his quarterback coach, has to the program.

According to recruiting expert Greg Biggins, Stanton's quarterback coach is former Bears signal caller, Nate Longshore. Biggins added that Longshore talks about the program often with Stanton, and the junior has significant interest in Cal after attending Junior Day in Berkeley.

Built like a linebacker at 6'2", 225 lbs, Stanton has drawn comparisons to former Florida Heisman Trophy Winner, Tim Tebow. Stanton surely produced like Tebow in 2011, throwing for 2,439 yards and running for another 1,528. All in all, Stanton accounted for 38 touchdowns.

His position at the next level could end up being safety instead of quarterback, but regardless, Stanton is a phenomenal talent who has a knack for winning. It is only a matter of time before his recruitment starts to hit its stride, but for now Cal appears to be in solid position.

Hutchings' recruitment could prove to be one of the most important for Cal in 2013. Hailing from nearby Concord, Calif., the linebacker attends powerhouse De La Salle High School.

It is imperative for Tedford and company to put a fence around the East Bay and keep Hutchings in Northern California.

According to ESPN.com, Hutchings favored USC early on in his recruitment, but his interest in the Trojans has tailed off following the departure of linebacker's coach Joe Barry to the NFL.

Still, Lane Kiffin's team appears to be the Bears stiffest competition when it comes to landing Hutchings. Cal was able to land the signature of Hutchings' high school teammate and linebacking partner, Michael Barton, on Signing Day 2012, which surely bodes well for the Bears down the line.

At 6'2", 210 lbs, Hutchings possesses the size and speed needed to thrive at the collegiate level. The junior already boasts a plethora of scholarship offers but the hometown Bears are still very much in it for the local talent.

Davis is, by many indications, among the top running backs in all of California. Like Hutchings, Davis resides in Northern California meaning the Bears must try and pull out all the stops to defend their backyard.

Davis carries his 6'1", 195 lbs frame well. The junior running back possesses above average speed for a player his size and he plays in a pro style offense like the one Cal runs.

The recruitment of Davis started to take off shortly after the completion of his junior season in which he rushed for over 2,380 yards and 36 touchdowns on his way to earning first team all-State honors.

Davis understands Cal's recent history of putting players at his position into the NFL (Marshawn Lynch, Jahvid Best, Justin Forsett, etc.).

If the Bears can close the deal with the talented tailback, they may be adding another name to that impressive list.

Vanderdoes is yet another Northern California native who is high on Cal's list of recruits for 2013. The defensive end from Auburn, CA would fill the strong side defensive end position in the Bears' 3-4 scheme.

Fortunately for Cal, Vanderdoes does have family ties to the program. His grandfather attended California and the Bears were onto him early, as they were among one of the first teams to offer the talented lineman.

However, that offer did come from former defensive line coach and recruiting guru Tosh Lupoi who has since packed up and moved to Washington.

It's important for Coach Tedford and Coach Howard to maintain a solid relationship with Vanderdoes. The lineman has already received national attention from the likes of Alabama, Georgia and Michigan.

In-state foes USC and UCLA are also very much in the mix.

Defending home turf and keeping Vanderdoes should be a priority for Cal as the 2013 recruiting season progresses.

Redfield may be the biggest reach on this list of targets, but that doesn't mean the Bears aren't heavily involved in his recruitment.

Early in the process, Redfield, a 6'2" 195 lbs safety from Mission Viejo, Calif., listed Notre Dame, Oregon and USC as his top three schools.

However, Redfield is still keeping his recruitment wide open, which means Cal has as good of shot as any to land the elite prospect.

Redfield visited Berkeley for Cal's Junior Day and came away from the trip impressed by what the Golden Bears had to offer.

Redfield will likely take his time with the process and not rush to a decision, meaning the Bears will have ample opportunity to to improve their status.

The Trojans, Ducks and Irish may be tough to beat, but don't count out Cal for one of the top safeties in California.