2025 LB Carter Jones commits to Cal: 'I can't wait to be a Bear'

Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Crean Lutheran linebacker Carter Jones was offered by Cal nearly 18 months ago as a freshman. The Golden Bears were one of his first Power Five offers, and that meant a lot to him.

As he has gone along in the recruiting process, even more offers have come in. But Jones knows where he wants to play his college football, and that’s in Berkeley. On Sunday, he publicly committed to Cal over offers from Arizona State, Oregon State and a number of others.

“The biggest reasons I committed to Cal was the coaching staff and my relationship with all of them,” he told On3. “Also, the quality of the education and the school and knowing what a Cal degree is worth when I am done playing football is second to none. Getting to know a lot of the guys on the team and culture and brotherhood they have developed was also a huge factor for me.”

Since that offer, Jones has visited Berkeley four times. The atmosphere on campus and around the program is exactly what he’s looking for at the next level.

“The atmosphere at Cal during the games I have attended has been great and high energy,” he added. “Both of the games came down to the last second each year and the Cal crowd was behind the team to the very end. The team never quit and could have won both of those games. It was great to see the stadium filled and all of the excitement around the school.”

Relationship with coaching staff was a big factor

Jones has connected with multiple members of the coaching staff at Cal, and he feels that they can develop him and also take care of him as a person. That rapport is second-to-none.

“It started years ago when I was at a youth camp being coached by coach Aristotle Thompson. I have also known Coach Terrance Brown since middle school. Then over the past year and a half I have built a great relationship with Coach Wilcox. I really appreciate the time he has spent with me every time I get up to Cal. His coaching style and the culture he has created is one of the main reasons I want to be a Bear.”

Jones also loves the educational opportunities at Cal and what the degree can do for him after his football career is over. He sees the culture that is being built around the program and wants to be part of that.

“Getting to know a lot of the guys on the team and culture and brotherhood they have developed was also a huge factor for me. Additionally, I got to see how Cal will be there to support me and my success during my time there and after football is over, which was also super impressive.”

As a junior this fall, Jones totaled 150 tackles, including 102 solo tackles, in 12 games.