Aug 22, 2017 4 min read

California University’s football team is changing from Brown to Greene this fall.

Garry Brown, the All-America wide receiver for the Vulcans, is gone after a 91-catch senior season that produced 1,475 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Brown was the lynch pin to an explosive Cal offense that produced 11 consecutive wins in head coach Gary Dunn’s first season. With the help of Brown, Cal won the PSAC West Division title and the State Game.

Brown’s 26 overall touchdowns led the nation and earned him a spot as a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, which is given to the top player in Division II. The Oakland Raiders signed Brown as a free agent, obviously impressed with his numbers. The 6-1, 200-pounder set school records for career receiving yards (3,761) and receiving touchdowns (43).

Enter Tommy Greene, a 6-4, 195-pound senior from Woodland Hills who took advantage of Brown’s double-coverage to set career highs in receptions (51), receiving yards (717) and touchdowns (6).

“I think I’m going to be more a part of this offense,” said Greene, who made nine catches and 135 yards in two postseason games: a 44-23 win over IUP and 41-30 loss to Shepherd.

“We all know (Brown) was a big part of our offense and he’s gone. Everybody has to be more productive on offense. I learned a lot from him, how he catches the ball, and he always broke the first tackle. He never went down. Throwing that stiff arm was important and that’s what I want to improve on. I want to make sure my YAC (yards after catch) improves over last year.”

Along with changes to his technique, Greene rearranged other things over the summer.

“I just recently stopped eating all types of meat, just for health reasons,” he said. “I want to be a little lighter on the field and I want to be able to move the way I want to on the field.”

The wide receiver position will certainly feel Brown’s absence. But the opportunity is there for either Greene, Luke Smorey or Jordan Dandridge to take charge.

Smorey is a 6-0, 200-pound senior who was a third or fourth option in the passing attack. He had 35 receptions for 446 yards and six touchdowns last season.

Dandridge has the size (6-3, 200), and speed to have a breakout season. He is coming off a season in which he averaged 11 yards on his 22 receptions.

“When you have a guy like Garry, I don’t think you can replace him,” said Dunn. “We’re going to be more spread out and force people to defend a lot more. We’ve got three of our four receivers back and they are three really good football players. Obviously, we’re not going to rely on one of them the way we relied on Garry. We’ll be able to spread the ball a little more.”

The one thing the three returning receivers have in common is the arm that threw the football to them last year is again attached to the right shoulder of quarterback Michael Keir. The 6-2, 215-pound senior took over the offense last season and was spectacular, completing 65 percent of his passes for 3,222 yards and 41 touchdowns. He was named MVP of the Coal Bowl after a 31-28 win over Indiana in which he threw for 302 yards.

“Losing a great player like Garry means we will be in transition,” said Keir. “We just have to have some people step up. And that’s what we’re pushing for.”

Keir said he felt the Vulcans’ wide receiver group was the best in the league last year.

“We lost some good players last year, but I don’t think we’re going to be that much different on offense or defense,” said Keir. “We’re still going to attack teams the same way. We can’t slow down because we lost some players.”

Cal has a veteran presence at nearly every position. Most of the front seven on defense returns and three players who played at cornerback will be back.

Dunn has to find new starting safeties with the departure of Aaron Terry and Jordan Bowman.

The right side of the offensive line returns and Taylor Nikithser anchors it at center. They will open holes for three returning running backs, led by starter Nick Grissom, a senior who rushed for 1,015 yards and scored nine TDs.

Jalen Bell, a junior do-everything back and cousin of Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, returns as does junior Jimmy Wheeler, a scat back who needs 103 yards to reach 1,000 rushing for his career.

“It’s a new team and a new season,” Dunn said. “I’m just eager to see how this team performs.”