On an otherwise quiet opening day of the Early Signing Period, Cal went to the transfer portal to pick up two potentially instant-impact transfers.

Cal picked up commitments and signed NLIs from former Oregon running back Byron Cardwell as well as former Clemson linebacker Sergio Allen. On the offensive end, Cardwell could partner with Freshman All-American Jaydn Ott in the backfield to give Cal a powerful one-two punch.

When Travis Dye left Oregon for USC last offseason, Cardwell emerged as the favorite to take over the starting job in the Ducks’ backfield. As a freshman in 2021, Cardwell ran 61 times for 417 yards and three scores, flashing promise and an every-down kind of ability.

The program then signed Bucky Irving (Minnesota) and Noah Whittington (Western Kentucky) from the portal and blue-chip freshman Jordan James to beef up the running back room, and Cardwell fell down the depth chart in camp. Irving and Whittington won out as the top two backs while Cardwell faded from the rotation.

He played in the team’s first two games, logging four carries for 28 yards against Georgia and then seven for 48 and a score against Eastern Washington a week later. And that was it.

“Continue to evaluate where we’re at on Byron,” coach Dan Lanning said of the former 4-star back in late September. “When he’s able to do everything in practice and we feel comfortable about his health, then he’ll definitely be a guy that I think can help us and contribute for us.”

Cardwell announced his plans to enter the transfer portal days after the Ducks’ lost to Oregon State to close out the regular season. He was a 4-star back and a top-200 recruit in the 2021 class and still possesses all the upside that made him such an exciting get.

“Motivation is high. My biggest thing is just to stay focused and have the opportunity to just play every game,” Cardwell told Golden Bear Report after his transfer was announced.