Cal senior quarterback Allan Bridgford is leaving the program after losing spring practice time to three younger players.
Bridgford, who started three games last season in place of departed senior Zach Maynard, completed 31 of 68 passes for 277 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. After a couple spring practices, he was told by new coach Sonny Dykes that his practice reps would go to younger players with a chance to play.
Today I asked for my release from the CAL football team. I plan on graduating this summer and transferring 2 another school 2 play football
— Allan Bridgford (@A_Bridgford16) March 11, 2013
If Bridgford does graduate, he’d be free to play at any school of his choosing without sitting out a year. He could play two seasons if he's granted a sixth year by the NCAA.
Bridgford, a former four-star recruit, suffered a shoulder injury in 2010, which would help his case for the sixth season. The injury, which was suffered while lifting weights, hampered Bridgford's progression at Cal.
"I was recruited by former coach Jeff Tedford to play quarterback in a pro-style offense that was tailored to my strengths, which are my abilities to make all the throws, my decision making and my leadership,” Bridgford said in a statement released by the school.
"It was made clear to me that they had decided to go in a different direction. Therefore, it is time to move on and find a school where I can play right away and hopefully for two seasons if I'm granted a sixth year of eligibility."
Sophomore Austin Hinder, redshirt freshman Zach Kline and freshman Jared Goff are all competing for the starting quarterback role.
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