Hooper excited after new offer

Austin Hooper didn't know much about Cal's junior day Friday night but by Saturday he was in Berkeley and by the time he left the Concord (Calif.) De La Salle defensive end had an offer.

It is definitely a big one for the 6-foot-4, 233-pound prospect especially because it came as such a surprise.

"It was very exciting," Hooper said.

"I'm a Bay Area kid and I grew up watching Cal football. I wasn't really expecting to get offered. I was really going there to check out the campus, thinking about showing them my tape and they previewed my junior highlight tape and it was an exciting experience to get offered by the school you grew up watching."

Hooper, who finished with 46 tackles and 10.5 sacks in his junior season, is being recruited by Cal to play outside linebacker in its 3-4 defense. It's a new position for the De La Salle standout but something he would consider playing.

"After dinner which was at 4:30 I went up to coach (Kenwick) Thompson, the linebackers coach, and basically introduced myself and he said they wanted to offer me as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense so it's more like their rush end," Hooper said.

"It's different and something I'd have to learn but it sounds exciting and I want to see how things go. I want to take my official there and if things seem right, if all my questions are answered and I'm comfortable then I'd definitely go there and play outside linebacker.

"I know a good amount of people up there but at the same time I can't just go there for that reason. It's definitely a good school and I'm definitely considering going there because it's a great place."

Other than his new offer from the Golden Bears, Hooper lists offers from Arizona State, Colorado, Northwestern, Oregon State, Washington and Army. He said no other schools are showing interest at this time.