California Golden Broncos? New Cal QB, coaches watching old Boise State film
If this year’s California Golden Bears football team reminds you a little of some old Boise State teams, don’t be shocked.
It’s not just because the Golden Bears have two former Broncos in prominent positions on their coaching staff, but also because they’re actively coaching their quarterback with old Boise State film.
Former Boise State defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox has been the head coach at Cal since 2017. This offseason, he hired former Boise State offensive coordinator and head coach Bryan Harsin as the Golden Bears’ OC. The coaches were graduate assistants together at Boise State in 2001 and were simultaneously on the Broncos’ staff from 2006 to 2009.
“We’ve watched a ton of Boise State stuff. That’s most of the clips, Boise State, and then some Auburn,” Cal redshirt junior quarterback Devin Brown said Monday at ACC media days in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Harsin became the head coach at Auburn after a successful stint leading Boise State.
Brown said they watched a lot of Kellen Moore, who quarterbacked the Broncos from 2008 to 2011. He said they also watched tape of Brett Rypien, who started from 2015 to 2018, when Harsin was the head coach.
Wilcox confirmed at media days that Brown and Harsin were watching Boise State tape as inspiration. But Brown also said they looked at “about 12” different offenses on film, including those of South Carolina, Utah State and Hawaii.
Brown, a transfer from Ohio State, likely has a stronger arm than both Moore and Rypien did during their college careers. But if he’s to take anything from the old Boise State tapes, it could be the spread offense that Moore ran, as well as becoming more comfortable with presnap adjustments.
Brown had limited action in his three years at Ohio State, attempting just 38 throws (27-for-38) and tossing three touchdown passes across that span. With Cal coming off a losing season (6-7), Wilcox and Harsin will be hoping to rub a little Bronco magic onto Brown in a season the Golden Bears aren’t expected to see much improvement.
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 12:55 PM.
