Nemyah Telona brings local-bull toughness to Cal’s defensive front
Nemyah Telona enters Cal as a 6-1, 310-pound freshman defensive lineman from De La Salle, where he helped anchor an undefeated 2025 squad and posted 30 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and an interception in 10 games. He fits the “why care” test because he looks built for trench work: compact, physical, and battle-tested against elite Bay Area competition, with coachable production and a captain’s résumé. He’s a strong fit for a team wanting a hard-nosed interior DL who can hold ground, flash disruption, and grow into a dependable rotational piece.
