Former 5-star recruit Demetris Robertson is leaving Cal

Demetris Robertson is leaving Cal.

Robertson, an explosive receiver, announced Thursday that he has decided to transfer from the program after two years. In a message posted on Twitter, Robertson said “personal matters” were behind the decision.

“Due to personal matters, I’ve decided not to continue my education and football career at UC Berkeley,” he wrote. “I would like to thank my coaches, teammates, staff, student body and so many others for their ongoing support and consideration of my personal matters. I know I will always have the support and love of my Cal family no matter what.”

Robertson will be highly sought after on the transfer market

Robertson made an immediate impact when he arrived at Cal. As a true freshman, he teamed up with Chad Hansen to form one of the best pass-catching duos in the Pac-12. That season, Robertson totaled 50 receptions for 767 yards and seven touchdowns, earning several Freshman All-America honors in the process.

As a sophomore in 2017, he started the Golden Bears’ first two games and had seven catches for 70 yards. He also had a 34-yard touchdown run. However, Robertson did not see the field after those two games due to a “lower body injury” that later required surgery. He was ruled out for the season in October and was granted a medical redshirt.

Wherever he lands as a transfer, Robertson will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2018 campaign.

Robertson was one of the top recruits in the 2016 class

Robertson’s recruitment played out differently than most. A five-star prospect, Robertson did not sign a national letter of intent on signing day. In fact, he let the process extend into the month of May. At that point, the Savannah, Georgia, native surprised most by choosing Cal over Georgia and Notre Dame, his other two finalists.

In all, he listed 52 total FBS offers and was also considering Alabama (where he once verbally committed), Georgia Tech and Stanford toward the end of his recruiting process.

When choosing Cal, Robertson said the education he could receive at Berkeley played a big role in his choice.

“I am excited to take my talents to the University of California, Berkeley,” Robertson said when announcing his decision. “The first reason is that the education was a big part of my decision. I wanted to keep that foundation. When I went there, it felt like home. Me and the coaching staff have a great relationship. That’s where I felt were the best of all things for me.”

Robertson was the No. 1 player in the talent-rich state of Georgia. He played running back, receiver and cornerback in high school and was recruited as an athlete.

What does this mean for Cal?

The loss of Robertson is a big one, no doubt. Robertson was recruited by Sonny Dykes, who was fired after the 2016 season. The team went 5-7 and showed a lot of promise in Justin Wilcox’s first season, even with Robertson sidelined.

Robertson, a potential star, was expected to be one of the team’s top options in 2018. Even without him, the Golden Bears return plenty of production, including senior Vic Wharton (67 catches for 871 yards in 2017) and junior Kanawai Noa (56 catches for 788 yards). Adding the speed of Robertson alongside those two would have been a scary sight for Pac-12 defensive coordinators.

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