For the third time in two years, a Cal veteran defender will be graduating and spending his final year of schooling elsewhere. Linebacker Michael Barton announced on Twitter that he will get his degree from UC Berkeley before moving on to a graduate program for his last year of college eligibility.
The loss of Barton combined with the loss of senior Jalen Jefferson leaves the Bears with only four regular linebackers from last year's rotation in Hardy Nickerson (Cal's leading tackler), Devante Downs, Ray Davison and Jake Kearney. Barton had 24 tackles in nine games at Cal this season after registering 80 in 2014 and 63 in 2013.