The Bears got on the board with their first offensive line commitment of the 2027 class with the addition of 6-6/335 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, CA) High School 3 star OT Josh Bunni.
The Bears made a big impression on the big Aussie right off the bat, starting with his visit to Cal for Premier Junior Day in early February and continuing from there.
“Cal believed in me and gave me a chance, even being new to the sport,” Bunni said after his commitment. “They believed in my ability and potential and that was huge for me.
“The staff and community at Cal genuinely feels like family and I felt at home on my visit. Coach Anae is huge. He’s a family guy and he has that Polynesian heart. He’s really going to develop me and take me to the next level!”
The native of Melbourne, Australia grew up playing Aussie Rules football and has never played American football but you’d never know it by the way he dominated the competition at last month’s San Francisco Rivals Elite Camp where he physically dominated and rag-dolled a variety of defensive linemen in 1-on-1 drills, showing extraordinary strength, leverage and great feet. He’s rated a high 3 star with Rivals/On3 because of his standout performance that their Elite Camp in San Francisco but is yet to be rated by 247 and ESPN with his new arrival to football.
Even though Bunni has not even played a snap of football, he holds offers not only from Cal but also from BYU, Arizona State, Utah, Washington, Washington State and more - all on the projection that his frame and skill set will develop into Power-4 caliber play.
It’s a good bet.
“I’ve never played a season,” Bunni noted last month after his great showing at the SF Rivals event. “I’ve never played a down of football.”
How’d he learn so fast?
“Oh man, just working with my coaches, watching video, practicing every day, just to get better.”
The 3 star O-lineman noted that though the sports are different, the physicality in both is somewhat similar and helped prepare him for his transition to American football.
“I love football, man,” he said. “The transition has been amazing and smooth so I love it.”
Bunni becomes the 15th commitment to Cal in the 2027 class, joining recent 4 star QB commit Dane Weber, WRs Charles Davis III (Westlake) and Blake Gunter (Southlake, TX), TE Rahzario Edwards (Grant Union), RBs Jaxsen Stokes (Sierra Canyon) and Antwon Sanders (CE King/Houston), DLs Troy Bowens (Sutter) and Miles Schirmer (Corona Centennial) edges Giovanni Hodge (Grant Union) and Elyjah Staples (Marquez-Huntington Beach), LB Gunnar Perry (Notre Dame Prep/Scottsdale, AZ), CB Duvay Williams (Junipero Serra) and safety Myles Baker (Sierra Canyon) and kicker Zach Brien (IMG Academy).
