UCLA’s training camp has already started to stir up the kind of buzz that can turn into full-blown panic before a single snap is played. With Week 1 about a month away, Bob Chesney has turned up the intensity, making practice fiery and competitive as the Bruins try to make a real leap in Year 1 under the new regime.
That’s why the biggest thing UCLA fans need to resist right now is the urge to draw sweeping conclusions from August. The offense has plenty of moving parts, and the most obvious place for overreaction is up front, where the Bruins are rebuilding almost the entire line.
The one constant is starting left guard Eugene Brooks. Everything else is in flux. Left tackle, center, right guard and right tackle are all expected to be new starters, and the battle at center has drawn extra attention with last year’s starter Sam Yoon competing with James Madison transfer Riley Robell.
That uncertainty matters because the offensive line was one of the weakest spots in college football last fall. There’s reason to think it can be better now, but these are still linemen who haven’t played together, with Robell and potential starting right guard Carter Sweazie the only clear connection in the group. If the line has rough patches early, especially in pass protection, that alone shouldn’t send everyone into a tailspin.
Chesney needs to settle on his starting five sooner rather than later. The earlier that group is set, the more time it has to build chemistry, sharpen communication, and get comfortable handling line games and blitzes. That kind of cohesion does not happen overnight.
There’s also plenty of reason to think the run game can look much better in Chesney’s system. At James Madison, his offense leaned on a rushing attack that finished top 10 in rushing yards per game and helped carry the Dukes to the College Football Playoffs as Sun Belt Conference champions. That setup also makes Nico Iamaleava a fascinating fit for UCLA, and it’s hard to imagine him not getting more out of this offense if it truly matches his strengths.
Still, the line will be the hinge point. By the end of the season, the Bruins could have a tough, productive unit in the trenches.
If they’re still not showing real progress by midseason against, say, Michigan State, then the panic button can come out. Until then, it’s too early to treat preseason uncertainty like a finished product.
In Other News...
UCLA Camp Is Off To A Strong Start Despite Two Key Concerns
UCLAs fall camp opened with a welcome sign for Bob Chesney and his staff: most of the roster is healthy enough to practice without restrictions, and a cluster of important players have already been cleared for full work. Among the names back in the mix are Leland Smith, Nico Davillier, Rodrick Pleasant, TaShawn James, Aiden Gobaira, Wayne Knight and Jordan Davis, which gives the Bruins a much fuller picture as they begin sorting out depth and roles.
The two lingering concerns are easier to spot because of how clean the rest of camp has looked. Ryan McCulloch is still out and has not yet been cleared after an injury issue that also followed him through spring practice, while Scooter Jackson remains tied up in academic eligibility matters. For a program trying to build momentum in camp, those are the kind of absences that matter, even if the broader health report has been encouraging. [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 🡒]