<a href="https://www.on3.com/college/california-golden-bears/">California Golden Bears</a> running back <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/kendrick-raphael-72957/">Kendrick Raphael</a> has signed with the <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/smu-mustangs/">SMU Mustangs</a>, per On3’s Pete Nakos. He previously played for the <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/nc-state-wolfpack/">NC State Wolfpack</a>.



Kendrick Raphael played his high school football at Naples in Florida. There, he was a three-star recruit in the <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/rankings/industry-player/football/2023/">Class of 2023</a>. He was the 476th-ranked player overall and the 31st-ranked running back overall in that recruiting cycle. Ultimately, he’d choose to go to NC State over <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/usf-bulls/">USF</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/florida-state-seminoles/">Florida State</a>, and <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/iowa-hawkeyes/">Iowa</a>, among others. 



In his first two college seasons, Raphael became a key fixture in the backfield for NC State. There, he would start in the final three games of the 2023 season, but saw action in 11 total matchups. He then followed that up by playing in 12 games as a sophomore. Over the course of his time at NC State, he’d carry the ball for 734 total yards on 5.1 yards per carry. He also had four touchdowns.



Following the 2024 season, Raphael hit the Transfer Portal and landed at Cal. With the Golden Bears, he had his breakout season, being named Honorable Mention All-ACC. That came on the back of 943 rushing yards on 4.1 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns. That mark was third in the conference in rushing touchdowns. He also had 34 receptions for 245 yards and another touchdown. 



2025 was the final season for Cal head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/justin-wilcox-133486/">Justin Wilcox</a>. The Golden Bears would go 6-5 under him this past season before making the coaching change. As a team, Cal would finish 7-6 with a bowl loss. Now, <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/tosh-lupoi-132988/">Tosh Lupoi</a> is coming in to be the program’s next head coach. Meanwhile, Kendrick Raphael would transfer.



SMU, meanwhile, is coming off its fourth season under head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/rhett-lashlee-133584/">Rhett Lashlee</a> and its second in the ACC. During his tenure, Lashlee has gone 38-16. That includes making the <a href="https://www.on3.com/category/college-football-playoff/news/">College Football Playoff</a> in 2025, the program’s first season playing at the Power Four level. 



Lashlee has been active in the Transfer Portal to this point. So far, SMU has lost 15 players while adding another 10. There is, of course, still time for the Mustangs to add to that number. Among those outgoing players is another running back, <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/christopher-johnson-151162/">Christopher Johnson</a>. 



To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal <a href="https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/wire/football/">wire</a>. The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/transferportal/">On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account</a> and <a href="https://x.com/TransferPortal">Twitter account</a> are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Former NC State running back Kendrick Raphael had the game-winning touchdown for California in its 38-35 win over SMU on Saturday. 

Kendrick Raphael

On3 Football

Cal running back Kendrick Raphael has signed with SMU

team image

The Main Board

Football

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Teams

Fan Sites

Forums

Shows

team-link

College Football News

College Football Player Rankings

College Football Rankings

College Football Playoff

College Basketball News

Women's Sports

College

NIL News

NIL Valuation

NIL Deals

NIL Deal Tracker

Sports Business

Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal

Transfer Portal Rankings

Transfer Portal Team Rankings

Transfer Portal

NCAA Transfer Portal Home

Football Recruiting

Basketball Recruiting

Database

Team Rankings

Player Rankings

Industry Comparison

Commitments

Recruiting Prediction Machine

Recruiting

High School News

Schools

High School Search

Rankings

High School Rankings

Scores

High School Scores

High School

NFL Draft

NFL Draft News

Draft By Stars

College Draft History

College Draft Totals

NBA Draft

NBA Draft News

Draft

NASCAR

Culture

Sports Betting

About

On3 App

Advertise

Press

Contact

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Lettermen Row

Lettermen Lounge

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Cal running back Kendrick Raphael has signed with SMU

Lou Holtz

Charles Bediako case

Player Buyouts

B1G-SEC

Jay Bilas