New Cal coach Justin Wilcox brings in small 1st class

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) After being hired less than three weeks before signing day, new California coach Justin Wilcox had little time to put together a top class.

He signed just 14 players in a class that was ranked at or near the bottom of the Pac-12. Wilcox said he didn't want to rush and hand out scholarships to players who weren't good fits.

He lost a handful of recruits after the coaching change and signed only one player from the Bay Area in linebacker Kyle Harmon. Wilcox said keeping players home will be a priority for him in the future.

Other things to know:

Top 25 Class: No

Best in class: Elijah Hicks, CB, Long Beach. Hicks originally committed to Notre Dame before switching to Cal last month, giving the Bears a key secondary piece needed to improve a struggling defense.

Best of the rest: Chase Garbers, QB, Newport Beach; Taariq Johnson, WR, Buena Park; Biaggio Ali-Walsh, RB, Las Vegas.

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Late addition: G Poutasi Poutasi, Las Vegas.

One that got away: Paul Scott, LB, Oakland.

How they'll fit in: Wilcox will be counting on many of these recruits to contribute as freshmen as he looks for players who fit his system better than the one run under fired coach Sonny Dykes. He added a pair of tight ends in Ben Moos and Gavin Reinwald to a roster that didn't use any last year. With no experienced quarterback on the roster, Garbers could get a shot to compete in fall camp to be the starting quarterback.

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For the full list: http://www.calbears.com/

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