The challenge facing California is an obvious one: Jared Goff, perhaps the greatest quarterback in program history, is gone as the NFL draft's top 2016 pick. His top six targets from this past season have also left the Golden Bears, so a well-oiled passing machine must be completely replaced.

But spring ball -- if it's any indication -- brought good news to Berkeley. Cal showcased an electric new group of receivers. This was, of course, just scrimmage play. Still, talent was readily apparent, especially in the form of early enrollee Melquise Stovall, whose explosiveness in the open field promises to create headaches for opposing tacklers.

Five-star sizzler Demetris Robertson will join Stovall as a freshman contributor this fall. High school film shows that both players have the potential to make an immediate, eye-popping impact at the college level.

The rest of the receiving crew doesn't look too shabby, either. Redshirt freshman Brandon Singleton, son of former NFL target Nate Singleton, also packs serious speed. He caught the winning touchdown in the spring game. Freshman Jordan Duncan and junior-college transfer Jordan Veasy both bring height to Cal's wide receiver stable, and Tennessee transfer Vic Wharton contributes invaluable experience.

There's a diverse array of targets for Goff's successor to throw to. During spring ball, it looked like that quarterback would be either Chase Forrest or Ross Bowers, but now a new favorite has entered the picture in Texas Tech graduate transfer Davis Webb, whom ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. currently ranks as his No. 1 senior quarterback prospect.

So despite a massive exodus of passing and catching talent, Cal has reloaded the cannons in this regard -- at least on paper. Now it's a matter of finding the on-field cohesion necessary to keep the productivity of the Goff era flowing. That much is up to head coach Sonny Dykes and new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who -- like Webb -- is a member of Mike Leach's "Air Raid" coaching and quarterback tree. The ingredients are there for the Bears to again move the ball through the air.