If it were up to UCLA defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler, the Bruins wouldn’t wait another second to open the season against Cal.
“Ah shoot, I’ll play them right now,” he said. “Line them up in the parking lot. Let’s go.”
That kind of confidence has been easy to spot around Westwood, where Hitschler and head coach Bob Chesney have spent camp watching a defense that looks and sounds as if it’s already in midseason form. Chesney said after Friday’s practice that the unit has been “flying around,” and he credited the group’s preparation and clarity.
“The amount of work they put in,” Chesney said following Friday’s practice, “I think they do it at a pretty elite level. … We feel pretty confident that they understand exactly what their responsibilities are.”
The Bruins’ defense has backed that up on the field. Players have been chirping after winning periods, according to tight end Josh Phifer.
Rodrick Pleasant has locked down receivers in man coverage and delivered a hit on a receiver during Friday’s 11-on-11 work. Tyson Ford said every player on the field is “contributing” to the aggressive style Hitschler wants.
There’s also a freshman already turning heads. CJ Lavender has drawn steady praise throughout camp and could have a meaningful role in Week 1. Hitschler hasn’t hidden his admiration for the way the young defender has handled the grind.
“Man, it’s fun to watch him on a day-in, day-out process,” Hitschler said Tuesday. “The grind is never too much for him. You know, a lot of freshmen tend to hit walls at some point, but he breaks through every one of them, and continues to make plays.”
Linebacker Trent Hendrick is another piece UCLA is easing into the mix. Hitschler’s defense may feel ready to roll now, but Hendrick is still getting back into the rhythm of college football and learning the new details of the scheme. Even so, he has been in the 11-on-11 periods for the past two days, and Chesney said he would be “100%” ready to face Cal on Sept. 5, just 12 days after arriving in Westwood.
“He’s doing a great job,” Chesney said of Hendrick on Friday. “The scheme has changed.
… But I think he’s got a general idea of what exactly - and where - he’s fitting. There’s a lot of different things that we’re still looking at.”
For all the edge and energy UCLA is showing, there’s still the reality of camp: the Bruins are hitting the same offense every day, and Hitschler’s group is itching for a different target.
“We’re ready to hit someone else,” Hitschler said. “We’re tired of playing against our own offense and having to deal with (quarterback) Nico (Iamaleava) everyday.”
On the other side of the ball, center Riley Robell returned to 11-on-11 work Friday after managing a knee injury. Because he already knows offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy’s system, UCLA has been able to take a measured approach with his recovery. His return gives the Bruins more time before kickoff to build chemistry with quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
Hitschler still emphasized that every practice rep matters before the gameday walkthrough, even with the opener drawing close. But the message from the defensive side is clear: they feel ready now.
“Like anybody, you want to go put on pads and play somebody else,” Chesney said.
In Other News...
UCLA Camp Is Already Changing How Bruins Build The Next Roster
UCLAs 2026 fall camp is doing more than setting a depth chart for the season ahead. For Bob Chesney and his staff, it has become an early-look audit of the roster, a chance to see how the new pieces fit and where the Bruins may need to keep building as they look toward the 2027 recruiting class.
The evaluation is shaping more than just practice reps, too. Camp relationships can matter when playing time decisions come around, and the same conversations helping coaches sort out positional fit are also expected to influence where UCLA turns next in recruiting. For a program trying to stay ahead of its own roster cycle, the work happening now could echo well beyond this fall. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Tight End Battle Could Reveal The Bruins Offensive Identity
The Bruins tight end room has become one of the more interesting spots to watch as camp unfolds, thanks to a transfer battle between Josh Phifer and Brayden Loftin. Both arrived with a chance to carve out a real role, but they bring different skill sets to the table, which is why the competition says as much about the offense as it does about the players themselves. Phifer has drawn attention for his blocking and the way he fits with teammates, while Loftin looks like the more natural receiving option.
For Chip Kelly, the choice may ultimately help define what UCLA wants to be this fall. A run-heavy approach would seem to play to Phifers strengths, while a more pass-oriented attack would open the door for Loftin to become the clearer fit. Either way, the Bruins have a genuine decision to make, and the winner could end up telling the story of how this offense plans to function when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Heads Into Week 1 With One Huge Question Up Front
With the season opener against California closing in, UCLAs preseason camp has offered Bob Chesney and Dean Kennedy a first real look at how the Bruins are coming together under a new coaching staff. The progress has shown up in several places, from better offensive rhythm to clearer player leadership, and the staff has also liked what it has seen from quarterback Nico Iamaleava and freshman defensive back CJ Lavender.
The concern still hanging over the group is up front, where the Bruins are trying to build offensive line depth while working through injuries. It is the kind of issue that can quietly shape September as much as any headline-making position battle, and for UCLA it leaves one of the biggest early-season questions unresolved heading into Week 1. [Read more 🡒]