Attaining a top level pass rusher is nice. Who could argue with the value of making an opposing quarterback uncomfortable? When it comes to the California Golden Bears, why stop at one when you can have two?

This week the Bears received a verbal commit from Garrett Hughes of Corona, California. Hughes is the second end in the class of 2013 to commit to Jeff Tedford. Gaining three stars by both 247Sports and ESPN, Hughes could be just the guy Berkeley is looking for to terrorize Pac-12 quarterbacks for years to come.

In July Takkarist McKinley, also a defensive end, verbally committed to Cal.

Quarterbacks aside, Hughes has the ability to bring the noise in the run game. Out of the 3-4 alignment, the 6’3″ 245 pound lineman consistently fought off blocks to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Currently Cal has twelve verbal commitments. Five, including Hughes, are true defenders. While the Bears have been one of the top defenses in the Pac-12 over the past couple of seasons, they could still use some help. Six players are expected to graduate on the defensive two deep after this season.

Tedford has more pressing issues to worry about, namely getting through the rest of the 2012 season with his job intact. How Cal fans feel about Tedford’s prospects for the future are probably mixed. What isn’t mixed is the need for a few big time play-makers on the defensive side of the football.

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James Gomez is a Pac-12 and Mountain West columnist for Rant Sports and member of the Football Writers Association of America. You can follow James on Twitter as well.