UCLA is entering fall camp with a lot more optimism than pain, and that alone is a notable shift for a program that spent much of last season and the offseason dealing with injuries. Bob Chesney’s team is getting to work in Westwood with a roster that, for the most part, appears ready to practice and push toward the start of the college football season.
At Big Ten Media Days, Chesney laid out the status of several Bruins who had been working back from various issues, and the update was mostly encouraging. Wide receiver Leland Smith, who had been limited through spring, is now a full go for fall camp.
Defensive lineman Nico Davillier, who missed all of spring practice, has been cleared as well. The same goes for cornerback Rodrick Pleasant, who has recovered from a shoulder injury and is set to be full force.
The list of players cleared for camp also includes safety Ta’Shawn James, defensive end Aiden Gobaira, running back Wayne Knight, and offensive lineman Jordan Davis, who is back after a shoulder injury.
That’s the kind of injury news UCLA wanted heading into camp, especially with so many transfer additions and so much anticipation around the program. But the picture isn’t completely clean just yet.
Defensive end Ryan McCulloch remains the notable holdout, still not cleared after the injury that kept him out for all of spring practice. Cornerback Scooter Jackson also has not returned to practice, with ongoing academic eligibility issues keeping him sidelined.
For now, the Bruins are in decent shape as camp begins, but the expectation in Westwood is obvious: the healthier this team stays, the better its chances of holding up in what could be the toughest conference in college football.
In Other News...
UCLA Fans Already Have One Big Reason To Watch The Offensive Line
Training camp has already given UCLA fans one clear thing to monitor under new head coach Bob Chesney: the offensive line. Chesney is installing a rushing attack shaped much like the one he leaned on at James Madison, which makes the front five a central part of how this offense will look and function once the season starts. With multiple new starters expected up front, the Bruins are asking a unit in transition to come together quickly while also setting the tone for a ground game that figures to be the backbone of the new system.
The most interesting battle so far is at center, where Sam Yoon and Riley Robell are competing for the job. Even so, it is still early enough in camp that sweeping judgments about the line would be premature, especially with so many moving parts and so little time together. The better read for UCLA may come later, when the group has had time to settle in, build chemistry and show whether it can improve steadily as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Just Got A Preseason Boost Fans Will Love
Bruce Feldmans latest freaks list brought a little preseason shine to Westwood, with UCLA edge rusher Sahir West landing at No. 34 and quarterback Nico Iamaleava checking in at No. 67. For a Bruins team trying to turn momentum into something more tangible this fall, getting that kind of attention for both lines of offense and defense is a reminder that the roster has some real high-end athletic traits. West, a junior transfer from JMU, is coming off a strong 2025 season and is expected to be part of the starting edge rotation, which only adds to the intrigue around how disruptive UCLA can be up front.
Iamaleavas inclusion matters for a different reason, because UCLAs starting quarterback has already shown he can stress defenses with his legs as well as his arm. He led the Bruins in rushing in 2025 and has reportedly flashed notable athleticism in the offseason, which gives the offense a dynamic that can change the shape of a game if it holds up. Put together, West and Iamaleava give UCLA a pair of preseason talking points that suggest there is more explosiveness on this roster than the usual offseason chatter might indicate. [Read more 🡒]