FORT WORTH, Texas — California’s Nate Longshore could make a case for being the man who has everything.
He is one of the most envied college quarterbacks in the country, having the choice to pick from senior running back Justin Forsett (1,406 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing this season), senior receiver Lavelle Hawkins (69 catches for 855 yards and five touchdowns) and junior receiver DeSean Jackson (60 catches for 681 yards and five touchdowns).
Hawkins looks at the Bears’ trio of offensive weapons and says, “Name your own poison.”
But Longshore says the most powerful poison on Cal’s touted offense is center Alex Mack.
“He makes everything go with his attitude, his blocking, everything,” Longshore said. “He’s the guy.”
But the QB also has praise for Forsett, Hawkins and Jackson, the trio that will challenge the Air Force Falcons in the Armed Forces Bowl on Monday. All have the ability to be Cal’s top weapon against Air Force’s defense, which probably hasn’t faced a bigger challenge this season.
“They’re all phenomenal athletes and they’re all out there making me look good,” said Longshore, a 6-foot-5, 233-pound junior who has passed for 2,544 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. “I enjoy watching them. We’re definitely talented at the skill positions, but we haven’t been producing as much as we’d like.”
The Falcons (9-3) have played well defensively, giving up just 19.3 points a game.
After starting the season 5-0 and climbing to a No. 2 national ranking, the Bears (6-6) lost six of their last seven games. But with Hawkins rated as the top senior receiver in college football by some scouting services and Jackson considered the best junior receiver in the country, talent isn’t among Cal’s concerns.
But Air Force’s Carson Bird, an all-Mountain West Conference cornerback, said the Falcons can play with the Bears.
“We know how fast they are and how much athletic talent they have, but at the same time I think we’re a pretty fast team ourselves,” Bird said. “They have some players who will be playing on Sunday (in the NFL). Everybody doubts us against Cal, but we don’t doubt ourselves, and that’s all that matters.”
Hawkins and Jackson figure to give the Air Force defensive backs plenty of work.
“A lot of teams tried to double (cover) me, but it’s hard to do,” Jackson said. “They can’t concentrate on me that much because Hawk and Robert Jordan (41 receptions this year) can make big plays, too.”
As a nod to Jackson, Hawkins, who wears No. 7, sometimes wears Jackson’s No. 1 in practice.
“He’s one of those dudes who likes to have fun,” Jackson said. “Whatever he does, I just go along with it.”
The next number that will count for Hawkins after Monday’s game will be his number in the NFL draft.
“I’m not thinking about that now, but everyone dreams of having their name called at the right number,” Hawkins said.
Irv Moss: 303 954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
