UCLA’s fast start under Bob Chesney is already paying off on the field, and the Bruins are now making noise in the 2028 recruiting race, too.
The latest target in focus is 4-star quarterback Josiah Boyd, who Rivals says has trimmed his list to three schools: Oregon, UCLA and Kentucky. Boyd, a Moreno Valley, California native, is ranked by Rivals as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2028 class and No. 31 nationally.
At 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, Boyd brings the kind of dual-threat profile that makes him an intriguing fit for UCLA. The source material also notes that he has major arm talent and compares him stylistically to Nico Iamaleava.
The Bruins will get a chance to make their case in person this weekend. Boyd is scheduled to visit Oregon on Friday, Sept. 18, then head to Westwood the next day to attend UCLA’s home game against Purdue. He is also set to visit Kentucky later in the year.
That trip to Pasadena could matter for more than just the game itself. Boyd will have the chance to watch Iamaleava live, giving UCLA a built-in opportunity to show him how the position looks in its current setup.
There’s still a long way to go, of course. Boyd is part of the 2028 class, so any commitment would be well ahead of when he would actually arrive on campus. But for Chesney and his staff, being in the mix this early is a meaningful sign.
UCLA has already shown a spark with its 2-0 start under Chesney. The next step is turning that momentum into wins beyond Saturdays, and landing a prospect like Boyd would be a strong early statement.
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