UCLA’s defense is getting a new look under Bob Chesney, and the Bruins’ 2026 outlook starts with a handful of players who already know how to make an impact. After going through the offense, the next question is which defenders matter most as UCLA tries to build around a roster that has been reshaped in the offseason.
At the top of that list is Sahir West, the defensive end arriving from Jame Madison. UCLA badly needs production off the edge after finishing with just 10 total sacks as a team last season, and West brings exactly that kind of pressure.
He posted 7 sacks on his own, along with 14.0 tackles for a loss for 58 yards. That kind of disruption should give the Bruins a much-needed boost in the pass rush, especially with former JMU defensive lineman Aidan Gobaira expected to help on the other side of the line.
The linebacker group also looks like a strength, and Jalen Woods is a big reason why. The redshirt senior is entering his fifth year and brings a deep level of experience to the middle of the defense.
Last season, he finished with 47 tackles, which ranked fifth on the team. He added 4.5 tackles for a loss, good for second on the roster, and tied for the team lead with 1.5 sacks.
Pairing him with Sammy Omosigho gives UCLA a duo with real mileage and energy in the heart of the defense.
Omosigho arrives from Oklahoma and already looks like a useful fit for a position that needed help. He played in all 13 games last season after coming off the bench and finished fifth on the team with 50 total tackles.
He also added 4.5 tackles for a loss and 2.0 sacks. His spring ball emergence gave UCLA a defender who can bring juice in the middle, and that should translate well once the season starts.
In the secondary, Cole Martin stands out as the Bruins’ top returning tackler. In his first season at UCLA in 2025, he finished fourth on the team with 65 total tackles, trailing only players who are no longer with the program.
He was also second on the team with 2.5 tackles for a loss, and he chipped in three pass breakups and one interception. Martin, who was in his third year of college last season, looks like one of the more dependable pieces UCLA can lean on in the back end.
Rodrick Pleasant rounds out the group at cornerback after making his presence felt in his first season with the Bruins. The former Oregon transfer started 10 games in 2025 and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors.
He ranked ninth on the team with 36 tackles, including 22 solo stops and 14 assisted, and finished seventh in the Big Ten in pass breakups. With UCLA having allowed 387.0 yards per game last season, Pleasant has a chance to help lead the secondary into a better year.
In Other News...
Pat Narduzzi Just Reignited Pitt's Big Ten Debate
Pat Narduzzi used ACC Media Days to stir up a familiar conference argument, making the case that the ACC is stronger than the Big Ten. The Pittsburgh coach pointed to talent up and down the league and leaned on the ACCs results against Big Ten and SEC opponents, a stance that naturally caught attention given his own background as a longtime Big Ten voice before taking over the Panthers in 2013.
For UCLA fans, the debate has a familiar edge because Narduzzi has spent years on the other side of the conference line, including his time as Michigan States defensive coordinator. Pittsburghs record against current Big Ten teams under his watch has not exactly backed up the confidence, which is part of what makes his latest round of conference talk so easy to revisit. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Fans Need To See How Much The 2027 Board Just Changed
The summer recruiting circuit always reshuffles the conversation, and the latest update to the 2027 high school basketball rankings did exactly that. Beckham Black remains at No. 1 after a busy stretch that included a spot on the All-Star Five at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Trkiye and a solid EYBL summer, while CJ Rosser holds at No. 2 after turning heads in the gold-medal game and backing it up with a strong run in Las Vegas.
For UCLA fans tracking the future board, the most intriguing development is the rise of Cayden Daughtry, whose season in the EYBL was as productive as it gets. He finished as the leagues leading scorer, earned MVP honors and helped his team win the championship, all of which pushed him into the top tier of the class and changed the shape of the 2027 conversation in a way that will matter when the next wave of recruiting decisions starts to take form. [Read more 🡒]