Former Newport star Whiteside kicked off team at Cal

Cecil Whiteside, a former Newport Harbor High standout, has been kicked off the football team at Cal for violating team rules, Coach Jeff Tedford announced Thursday.

Tedford did not specify what the linebacker did, according to the Associated Press and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Whiteside was regarded as one of Tedford’s most talented defensive players, the Chronicle reported. As a freshman, he played in 10 games and started three for the Bears. He recorded 17 total tackles, four for losses. He also had three sacks, two forced fumbles and he broke up one pass.

Whiteside was about to enter his sophomore season. He came out of spring practice listed as a backup at outside linebacker, according to the Chronicle. He had to sit out his first year, 2010, because of academic issues and was a grayshirt.

Whiteside, the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year who led Newport Harbor with 96 total tackles as a senior in the fall of 2009, was a sought-after recruit coming out of high school. He was ranked as the fourth best outside linebacker recruit in the nation by Rivals.com.

— From staff reports