The California Golden Bears got an early start on New Year's recruiting by BEATING STANFORD.

As rumored yesterday, the Bears landed a commitment from Nygel Edmonds. Edmonds had been committed to Stanford for months and then made a surprising and pleasing switch this afternoon. Edmonds changed his avatars from Stanford to Cal last night, and now the verbal was made official later on Tuesday.

The commitment of Edmonds gives Cal firm stability at the defensive back position. If this class holds true, the Bears now have Edmonds, Traveon Beck, Marloshawn Franklin, Josh Drayden and Camryn Bynum all locked and ready to go. Hopefully the depth from the last two classes will help fuel Cal's overall defense back to at least league average in the upcoming years.

Cal might not be done mining Stanford prospects though. The Bears are hot in pursuit of former Stanford decommit Nate Herbig. The Hawaiian offensive lineman reopened his recruitment over the holidays and will pay Cal a visit the weekend of the 23rd.

After prayer and talking it over with the family, I have decided to re open my recruiting, God has a plan pic.twitter.com/rySXDM3Lqj — Nate Herbig (@nate_herbig) December 26, 2015

Herbig is a mean, mean dude in the trenches. You can see why Stanford liked him. At 6-4, 320 pounds, Herbig is the type of lineman that Cal has needed for the longest time--someone who can line up in the trenches and punch big holes for running backs.

Herbig still likes Stanford, Washington just offered and is getting his final visit, but you have to feel like the Bears are in the mix here. Washington State was originally in the mix, but it doesn't seem like that's happening anymore. Cal will get his visit the next-to-last week before Signing Day.

Cal has already stocked up on offensive line talent in Jake Curhan, Dwayne Wallace, Daniel Juarez, Francisco Perez and Gentle Williams, but the Bears will definitely make room for Herbig if they can. Cal is trying to polish up their best offensive line class in a long time, and securing five to six of these road graders would be a huge move for the future.

PS: Another Stanford defensive back commit reopened his recruitment. It's unclear if Cal is interested, but is it possible Stanford secondary coach Duane Akina is making a move away from the Farm?