Lone Star QB picks Cal

Cal Head Coach Jeff Tedford and the Golden Bears received a dose of good news as Dallas Episcopal quarterback Brock Mansion made a verbal commitment to attend the University of California during his visit to Berkeley today. The 6-5/221 Mansion, a four-star recruit according to the Scout database, has been high on Cal’s wish list since they offered the big quarterback last month.

Besides Mansion’s size and arm strength, Mansion’s speed and experience running the spread option made Mansion an attractive target for Tedford and Offensive Coordinator Mike Dunbar who has been busy scouring the country for quarterbacks well-suited to run Cal’s new modified spread offense.

"Brock committed to Cal around two hours ago," said Mansion’s father, Hans. "Cal was one of the schools he keyed in on from the very beginning. Cal, Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas were his number one choices. We actually contacted Cal. They’re way out in California and don’t have a crystal ball. They can’t keep track of everyone around the country. Trying to get a kid from Texas to come all the way to California doesn’t always work, but we put them at ease and basically said, ‘Listen, we’re the ones calling you guys. We’re serious about Cal if you’re serious about Brock.’

"Then Coach Dunbar came out and watched Brock. And, of course, I knew once I saw Brock, he’d love him. And they made an offer immediately. It was an offer he coveted. He’s over 20 offers now."

Mansion strongly considered the senior Mansion’s alma mater, Texas Tech were he played receiver and tight end as well as Texas and Alabama, who pushed strongly for a commitment, but ultimately, Mansion found Cal to be the best situation for him.

"I knew as soon as Brock got off the plane in California and it was a comfortable 65 degrees (with no humidity), he was going to like it out there," Hans Mansion continued. "When Brock got out there and saw Cal…I mean, you can’t argue with Tedford. He’s got 12 guys in the NFL, six of them 1st round draft picks –who wouldn’t want an opportunity to play with that kind of track record? That campus is so pretty, too. I just told my wife Kim, I’ll just be shocked if Brock doesn’t commit right there on the spot. So I really thought he’d go out there and commit.

"Brock called me to let me know he just committed and he put Coach Tedford on the phone and they were hootin’ and hollerin’ and having a good old time," laughed Mansion. "Coach Tedford said that this was the biggest quarterback he ever had that could move like Brock can. Brock runs a 4.7 forty and weighs 230 pounds right now and doesn’t have an ounce of fat on him. He loves the weight room and loves his workouts. He just turned 18. When it’s all said and done, I think he (Tedford) will have a 6-5/245-50 quarterback that can really run and throw the ball."

Mansion’s father cited a play last season where Brock ran wide left and flicked the ball across his body 60 yards down the field for a completion as ample evidence of his arm strength and athleticism. Mansion’s impressive totals of 2,000 passing yards to go along with 1,000 rushing yards also bore testimony to Mansion’s unique combination of size, speed and strength.

Mansion comes from a large family with his parents checking in at 6-3 and 6 feet tall, not to mention three uncles that played offensive line for Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech –all over 300 pounds themselves.

Mansion’s athleticism was also exhibited in his other sports as he went 9-1 with a sub 1.00 ERA as a pitcher and batted over .400 at 1st base, as well as playing center for his basketball team. Mansion was a natural 2 guard, but was needed under the basket so he made the move underneath to help his team. The move obviously worked as his Dallas Episcopal squad went to the state tourney, finishing 7th in the state.

Mansion becomes Cal’s second commitment of the off-season, joining Saratoga WR Alex Lagemann who committed earlier this week. Cal beat out Mississippi State, Baylor and Indiana amongst many others for Mansion’s services.

To view Brock Mansion's profile, click here.

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