Addison Ooms received a long-awaited phone call shortly after his sophomore season at Cal.
 
After Ooms started every game in 2016 as a walk-on, new head coach Justin Wilcox called him with news that he was going to be put on scholarship.
 
Now a fifth-year senior, Ooms will make his 37th consecutive start for the Golden Bears in the Cheez-It Bowl on Dec. 26, the most since Jared Goff accomplished the same feat before becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
 
The 37th start will also be the final one for Cal's center.
 
"It's been amazing," Ooms said. "It's had its ups and downs, but the highs have been pretty high and the lows are pretty distant from my memory because of all the good that I've experienced here. Being part of such a great group of guys throughout my five years here, it's been incredible. Walking on was one of the best experiences of my life. I'll cherish it forever."
 
Wilcox's decision to put Ooms on scholarship fueled the fire that already burned bright. Considering the work and dedication he had put in as a walk-on, Ooms became motivated to play harder with his effort having been recognized.
 
His offensive line coach for the past two seasons, Steve Greatwood, appreciates what Ooms brings as a leader to the team on and off the field. Greatwood has been able to depend on him at center for every game since his arrival at Cal with Wilcox.
 
"His desire and motivation to be out there is incredible because I know he's had aches and pains like everybody else has," Greatwood said. "He's a competitor and a warrior. I love the kid. It's so important to him. He literally would have to have something amputated for him to miss a game."
 
In 2015, Ooms got his first taste of the postseason as part of the Cal squad that defeated Air Force in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Then a redshirt freshman, the veterans on that team preached to Ooms and the other younger Bears to enjoy every minute of the experience.
 
Ooms took the wise words for granted and didn't understand the magnitude behind them until the Bears finished each of the next two seasons with a record of 5-7, narrowly missing a bowl berth each time.
 
"I had so much fun at the bowl game in 2015, and then to just barely miss out on it two years in a row, it leaves you dissatisfied and hungry," Ooms said. "I was irritated because I wanted that fun experience again. I think this program is going to be in a bowl game every year going forward because of coach Wilcox and what he's got going on here now."
 
A native of Laguna Niguel in Southern California, Ooms came to Cal from Mater Dei High School, making this season's victory over USC on Nov. 10 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum a little sweeter for him and a handful of other teammates who also attended Mater Dei.

 

 
The win over the Trojans helped Cal get over the hump in ending a long losing streak against USC and made the team bowl eligible, all on the same night.
 
"I have so many friends on that USC team. It was cool to do that close to home," he said. "Being at Mater Dei, all you heard about was USC because of [former Trojan quarterbacks] Matt Leinart and Matt Barkley. Coming to Cal, you just hear about the losing streak. It was so cool to break it, and for our fans too."
 
Along with Ooms, fellow Bears Malik McMorris, Chase Forrest, Justin Norbeck, Matt Rockett and Nikko Remigio all attended Mater Dei.
 
McMorris referred to Ooms as the brains of the Cal offense for making sure his teammates know their assignments after Ooms scans the defense when approaching the line of scrimmage.



 
"Addy is a hard-working tough guy," McMorris said. "Since high school, he's always been the brains of the offense. When Addy came here, you could see the difference he made for us. Even now, he's still the brains of the offense. He's telling everybody the formation so everybody knows what to do. He understands the entire offense. He's been a big part of this. His ride here has been impressive. Let's end it with a win."
 
Ooms' leadership is appreciated by his teammates, and not just the ones who know him best from high school. Ooms is consistent and reliable, and provides leadership by keeping the locker room loose and fun while being all business on the field.
 
When fellow offensive lineman Valentino Daltoso transferred to Cal from Oregon prior to the 2017 season, he credited Ooms with showing him the ropes.
 
"He had always been a vocal leader in the offensive line room, but he's taken that now to the whole team," Daltoso said. "That's not easy to do. You have to really earn the right to be able to do that, but he has earned that right. You do that by staying on the field. He doesn't get hurt or sit out, and that goes a long way in being a leader."
 
Ooms takes a lot of pride in his 37 starts and helping Cal get back in a bowl game, but he has a few more things on his to-do list before he departs. Ooms wants to end his career with a win and do everything he can to give the Cal football program momentum for the 2019 season.