Cal Football: Demetris Robertson’s transfer could crush bowl hopes

Cal football lost a major piece to its bowl puzzle on Thursday as former five-star wide receiver Demetris Robertson announced his intention to transfer.

Justin Wilcox’s first season as Cal’s head coach didn’t quite go as planned. The Golden Bears fell just one win short of bowl eligibility and his star receiver, Demetris Robertson, only played two games because he needed season-ending surgery to repair a hernia.

However, it still seemed as if Cal was headed in the right direction. It had been to just one bowl game since 2011 and Wilcox turned the perennial bottom-dweller into a fringe-postseason team in year one. He would have liked to make a bowl game, but his expectations will always be higher than from outsiders.

Unfortunately his job just got even tougher. No, he’s not losing breakout quarterback Ross Bowers or surprising running back Patrick Laird, but rather his star wide out.

Robertson, a former five-star recruit, announced his intention to transfer due to “personal matters” on Twitter Thursday.

What does this mean for the Golden Bears moving forward? It could hinder their bowl aspirations without a true No. 1 target. Yes, Kanawai Noa and Vic Wharton III return, but Robertson’s ceiling was the highest of the bunch.

In fact, Robertson was a Freshman All-American in 2016 after catching 50 passes for 767 yards and seven touchdowns. His two games in 2017, though, weren’t overly productive, catching seven passes for just 70 yards.

Cal will have to look for that No. 1 receiver to replace Robertson. He’s an electric pass-catcher who the Golden Bears were looking to rely heavily on this season and getting over that five-win hump will be tough without him.

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Will the Golden Bears make a bowl game this season? It’s still possible with Bowers and Laird, but Robertson’s departure doesn’t help matters.