For the second time in nine months, the California Golden Bears had to restock their running back room.
This switch seems to be going a lot more successfully. Cal identified and closed on three of their new running back targets in just over 24 hours.
Ashten “Lil Ash” Emory@AshtenEmory
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2:03 AM · Jan 8, 2026 · 28.9K Views
33 Replies · 67 Reposts · 503 Likes
Ashten Emory from UTEP took his trip to Berkeley earlier today, and made a firm commitment to the Bears. It was the second commitment today, with Carter Vargas (UC Davis transfer) also choosing to stay close to home at Cal. It was the third RB commitment in a two-day period, with Adam Mohammed (Washington transfer) choosing the new regime of Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi and the tutelage of running backs coach Keith Bonapaha.
Ashten “Lil Ash” Emory@AshtenEmory
Freshman tape!
All conference freshman RB
117 carries
569 yards
4.9 yac
6 total tds
673 all purpose
3:42 PM · Dec 9, 2025 · 23.2K Views
7 Replies · 46 Reposts · 204 Likes
Emory had 119 carries for 569 yards, a 4.8 yards per rush cadence, with four scores, leading UTEP in rush as part of their three-headed RB cohort. He also caught 16 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. At 5-11 and 210 pounds, Emory earned All-Freshmen Conference USA distinction for his production on a UTEP team that struggled to run the football. He even had to play with a broken hand in a cast for part of the season.
In two days, Cal now has a brand new running back room. Despite the losses of Kendrick Raphael and Brandon High, the Bears have now grabbed three running backs who combined for:
In the first week of the transfer portal, Cal has added a lot of talent in that backfield to take the load off of Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Our next major targets on offense will likely be focused on the offensive line to give these new running backs room to succeed.
Welcome to Cal Ashten!
