Cal cornerback Chigozie Anusiem to enter transfer portal
Just days after Cal brought home the Axe in a 41-11 victory over Stanford, the Bears lost one of their defensive centerpieces.
On an unassuming Wednesday morning, redshirt junior cornerback Chigozie Anusiem announced via Twitter that he intends to enter the transfer portal “as a grad transfer with 2 years left of eligibility.”
A California local from La Habra, Anusiem has played valuable minutes in his time with the blue and gold. As a freshman, he played 12 out of 13 games and recorded 15 total tackles and five pass breakups –– including one that prevented an Illinois touchdown during the 2019 Redbox Bowl. In 2021, he played in each of Cal’s first seven games with three starts and has recorded 13 total tackles.
Widely known for his trash talk, Anusiem brought fiery energy to the team after filling the void left by Cal-cornerback-turned-NFL-safety Camryn Bynum. Now, with Anusiem’s intention to leave, the Bears’ secondary will likely have to rely heavily on their budding young prospects. Such players include freshman cornerback Lu-Magia Hearns III –– who largely replaced Anusiem midway through September –– and sophomore cornerback Collin Gamble.
Ryan Chien is a deputy sports editor. Contact him at rchien@dailycal.org.