Travers Family Head Football Coach Justin Wilcox announced Friday that tight end J.T. Byrne has joined Cal's 2023 recruiting class.

Byrne will be a redshirt sophomore in 2023 with three seasons of collegiate eligibility remaining when he joins the Golden Bears later this month. He spent his 2021 true freshman and 2022 redshirt freshman campaigns at Oregon State after prepping at Carmel High School in the Monterey area.

"We are excited to bring J.T. back home to California via the transfer portal," Wilcox said. "He is a versatile athlete who has the skill set and ability to do a lot of different things in our offense."

Byrne was a two-way player as a prep who saw action as a tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, defensive end and quarterback. He compiled 66 receptions, 958 yards receiving and nine touchdowns in his first three seasons before his team played just once due to COVID during his 2020 senior campaign. In addition, Byrne had 62 carries for 393 yards and 10 touchdowns during his prep career, while also completing 33-of-51 passes for 560 yards and six scores – all as a 2019 junior while playing part-time at quarterback. Byrne was selected first-team All-State as a tight end and second-team All-State as an all-purpose player in 2019.

Cal has now announced the first 16 members of its 2023 recruiting class including seven transfers who will be mid-year enrollees this month – Byrne, ILB Sergio Allen, RB Byron Cardwell, DB Matthew Littlejohn, DB Kaylin Moore, DB Nohl Williams and P Lachlan Wilson.

Cal also signed nine prep players during the early signing period that will arrive in Berkeley in June – DL Tiumalu Afalava, DL Zurich Ashford, WR Nyziah Hunter, TE Ben Marshall, OLB Ryan McCulloch, RB Jaivian Thomas, ILB Cade Uluave, DB Sai Vadrawale and ATH Frederick Williams III.