Cal’s developmental inside backer with real juice as a run-stopper
In the 2025 season, Lucas Vanderlind is listed as a redshirt sophomore inside linebacker for Cal, and the key storyline is simple: he’s still waiting for his first college action at Berkeley after not appearing in 2024 or 2025.[1][5] What makes him interesting is the prior production he brought from Contra Costa College in 2023—40 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in nine games—which hints at a disruptive, downhill play style with some edge.[1][10] He looks like a fit for a team that values patience, physicality, and development over instant gratification.[1][15]
