Ross Bostock, a wide receiver and the 2007-08 Analy Athlete of
the Year, described his feelings on getting his first collegiate
action midway through the final quarter of Cal’s 2009 opener versus
the Maryland Terrapins in Berkeley, “It felt like everything was
worth it. All the hard work. Just to get on the field. It just felt
awesome.” He also played the following week against Eastern
Washington.
The 6-2, 194 lb. ,Golden Bears redshirt freshman receiver, who
earned first-team All-Redwood Empire honors at wide receiver for
the 2007 Analy football team, was trying to decide between playing
at SRJC or walking on to the Sacramento State football team as he
neared graduation from Analy in the spring of 2008.
The 2007 Analy football team MVP had sent his highlight tape to
Sac State, Utah and all the Pac-10 schools except USC and only Sac
St. had responded. In May 2008, Cal receivers coach Kevin Daft
called Bostock after viewing his tape and speaking to Analy coach
Chip Castleberry, asking if he would like to walk-on to the Cal
program.
The educational opportunity and the chance to play Pac-10
football made it an easy decision for Bostock, who also played
basketball and ran track for the Tigers. He would attend the
University of California.
During his 2008 redshirt season he was allowed to practice and
played on the scout team. Because of injuries to the talented Cal
receiving corps, Bostock played with the second team offense this
spring and is now playing on the third team.
“From when I first got to Cal until now it’s just crazy how much
I’ve improved,” he said. “When I had my one on one meeting after
spring, coach Daft told me I had probably improved the most out of
any of the receivers.”
Bostock is still adjusting to playing with a top-10 program.
“Learning the offense is hard because last year I was always
running the scout team offense so I never really picked up on the
Cal offense,” he said. “I had to learn the offense this spring and
it was difficult adjusting to the terminology.”
When asked to evaluate his strengths as a receiver, he didn’t
hesitate.
“My hands,” he said. “Being smart and seeing the field. I want
to improve on my blocking and my release off the ball against press
coverage. I want to be more physical.”
Bostock, who has put on 16 pounds of muscle since entering Cal,
would like to earn a spot on the travel team and eventually a
scholarship. He summed up his chances of attaining those
goals,
“It’s possible to earn a scholarship depending on how productive
I am,” he noted. “Special teams weighs heavily on giving a
scholarship to a walk-on. I just do whatever I can to help us win
whether I’m on the travel team or not. I hope the opportunity to
travel will be there sooner or later. I feel like if I keep
working hard I’m in a good place to keep improving. If I don’t
travel this year, it will be a goal for next year.”
The sixth-ranked Golden Bears travel to Eugene, Oregon to battle
the Ducks this Saturday in the Pac-10 opener for both schools.
