Cal’s David Wilkerson tries to track down Texas QB David Ash in the 2011 Holiday Bowl. Photo by Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Former Cal linebacker David Wilkerson, who left the Bears during fall camp, has been added to the Arizona Wildcats roster.
Wilkerson, a redshirt junior who joins the Wildcats as a walk-on, will be eligible next season.
Wilkerson, who sat out 2012 because of injury, played in 10 games in 2011, starting three. His best game came against Utah, when he made six tackles, including 3.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Wilkerson made 17 tackles in 2011, including 5.5 for loss and four sacks.
He entered camp in August as a co-No. 2 at weakside linebacker but decided to transfer after falling further behind. He has been on campus for a couple of weeks but was officially added to the roster within the past 24 hours.
“He asked for a release, and we gave him a release,” said first-year Cal coach Sonny Dykes. “I wish him the best.”
Wilkerson (6-2, 238) is a former four-star recruit from Monte Vista High School in Danville, Calif. He was rated the No. 6 inside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com and the No. 7 middle linebacker by Scout.com.
It’s not clear if he will have one or two years of eligibility left.
He has missed two seasons due to injury (2010 and 2012) and could qualify for a sixth season of eligibility, which would give him two years left to play, starting in 2014.
Arizona will lose senior linebackers Jake Fischer and Marquis Flowers after this season. The Cats have a promising group of young linebackers, which include starting true freshman Scooby Wright, but recently lost sophomores C.J. Dozier and Dakota Conwell, who each had to retire due to concussion problems.
Arizona has a strong linebacker group set for its 2014 recruiting class — junior college transfer Antonio Smothers, and high school teammates Jamardre Cobb and Marquis Ware. Each is rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com.