Cal LB Jackson Sirmon Named Preseason First-Team All-Pac-12

Jaydn Ott, Craig Woodson on second team. Six Utah players named to first-team all-conference squad

As expected one Cal player, graduate student linebacker Jackson Sirmon, was named to the preseason first-team All-Pac-12 squad, which was released on Tuesday. 

The Bears had two second-team selections in sophomore running back Jaydn Ott and senior safety Craig Woodson.

Sirmon was a first-team all-conference selection in 2022, when he led the team with 104 tackles, including six tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks, to go along with one interception. Woodson was fourth on the team in tackles with 75 and he also had two interceptions.

Ott began his freshman season like a star. He had 463 rushing yards after four games, including 274 yards against Arizona in the fourth game. He finished the season with 897 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns to go along with 46 receptions for 321 yards and three touchdowns.

Cal had a number of players who received honorable mention: wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter, offensive linemen Matthew Cindric and Sioape Vatikani, defensive lineman Brett Johnson, defensive backs Jeremiah Earby and Patrick McMorris, and punter Lachlan Wilson.

Wide receiver J.Michael Sturdivant, who was Cal's leading receiver last season before transferring to UCLA for this season, was not among the preseason all-conference selections nor did he receive honorable mention. That came as a surprise.

Utah had six players named to the first-team offense and defense, and no other team had more than three.

How strong will quarterback play be in the Pac-12 this year? Well, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, who was a strong Heisman Trophy candidate in 2022 until he got hurt late in the season, only achieved honorable mention status. That’s because he is behind USC’s Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, and Washington Michael Penix Jr., who led the nation in passing yards per game last season.

Here are the preseason all-Pac-12 selections:

Honorable mention

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Cover photo of Jackson Sirmon by Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports

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