Senior Spotlight: Cal WR Bryce Treggs Ready For Breakout Season
Cal wide receiver Bryce Treggs is hoping for a big year. It's why he came back for one more season rather than taking his chances in the NFL Draft this past spring in a large pool of underclassmen. As one of Cal's top offensive players coming back in 2015, this senior feels he is ready for a big season.
Hoping for a stand-out year
"I definitely see myself as a guy that's going to stand out, to break out this year," Treggs said in an interview with ESPN.com earlier this year. "This will be my fourth year starting and I'm definitely looking to have a big year. And hopefully be one of those top guys who can do whatever it takes to help my team win."
Treggs may not be the go-to receiver for junior quarterback Jared Goff, but the senior plays a key role in supporting junior wide receiver Kenny Lawler. Treggs was Cal's fourth-leading receiver in 2014 with 583 receiving yards, and his six touchdowns tied for second most on the team. Those numbers should rise this fall as Treggs looks to complement Lawler in the receiving game and help Goff improve his own draft profile.
Academic performance
With Cal's offensive philosophy based on moving the football through the air, there should be plenty of opportunities for Treggs to pile up some good stats along the way as Cal looks to achieve bowl eligibility after coming up just short a season ago. More importantly, Treggs will be able to earn his degree before moving on to whatever his football future has lined up. Treggs, a legal studies major, is scheduled to graduate this fall. That will allow him to focus on NFL Draft preparations in the spring without any academic obligations.
Earning a degree from Cal has always been a goal for Treggs. Since arriving on campus as part of Cal's Class of 2012, the five-star recruit has been able to split his academic life and his athletics life evenly. In his sophomore season, 2013, Treggs earned an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection while also receiving an honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic nod. He enters 2015 as a national honors candidate. Noted college football analyst Phil Steele has Breggs listed on his third team All-Pac-12 preseason squad alongside Lawler (Goff is on the second team).
NFL Draft possibilities
While Treggs is preparing himself well for a future off the football field, he still remains a player worth watching for the NFL Draft. At this point, Treggs appears to be a nice complementary player that could play a role on special teams as well (he led Cal with 20 punt returns in 2013 and should expect to see some special teams duties this fall). What scouts will want to see this season is Treggs start to break open some big plays on offense and perhaps special teams. He's not Cal's top special teams return specialist, but he could be used at times.
Practical knowledge for Cal's offense
Treggs will bring a good amount of experience to Cal's developing offense—an offense that has taken some time to grow together under head coach Sonny Dykes appears ready to show off its best stuff yet in 2015. Treggs is one of eight possible offensive starters back in the mix this season, and he is one of the many upperclassmen ready to take the field. He enters 2015 having started 27 of the 33 games he has appeared in since joining the program in 2012, and he leads all active Cal Bears with 150 receptions and 1,550 receiving yards in his career. No receiver for Cal has started more games than Treggs.
Familial legacy
Treggs is also tracking down some family milestones this fall. With just 17 receptions and 785 receiving yards or seven touchdown receptions, Treggs will match the career marks held by his father, Brian Treggs. The elder Treggs was recently named to the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015 and will be honored at this year's home game against USC. Perhaps someday Bryce Treggs will receive a similar honor, and just maybe there will be another Treggs playing receiver for the Bears down the road. It's a family tradition, it seems.
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
