UCLA landed two names on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List, with edge rusher Sahir West checking in at No. 34 overall and quarterback Nico Iamaleava coming in at No. 67.
West’s spot on the list tracks with what UCLA has been saying all offseason. Feldman described him as “Arguably the most talented of the JMU transfers Bob Chesney brought with him to Westwood,” noting that the junior was originally recruited by Chesney to Holy Cross when he was there.
West put together a big 2025 season, piling up 14 TFLs, seven sacks, four pass breakups and 45 tackles while earning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors. He also turned heads with his testing numbers, running a hand-timed 4.78 40 and squatting 600 pounds.
Chesney has continued to point to West as someone who should matter right away for the Bruins because of his size and production. At Big Ten football media day in Chicago, Chesney said, "He's done a great job," Chesney said of West at Big Ten football media day in Chicago.
"He came over from JMU with us. And he's just doing a really good job on defense.
He's developing at a high level for us right now."
That role appears set to be a major one. West is expected to open the season as a starting edge rusher, and at 281 pounds he can also slide inside on the defensive line when UCLA wants to mix things up. The Bruins should see plenty of him this fall.
Iamaleava also earned a place on Feldman’s list after a first season as UCLA’s starter that showcased just how dangerous he can be with the ball in his hands. Feldman pointed to the 6-5, 215-pound senior’s production as both a runner and passer, including 505 rushing yards on 112 carries with four touchdowns. He added 10 runs of 20 or more yards and completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,928 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Feldman also highlighted the kind of athletic burst that makes Iamaleava such a unique weapon. He cited the former five-star recruit’s role in UCLA’s 42-37 upset of then-No.
7 Penn State, when he accounted for five touchdowns in the Bruins’ first win over an AP top-10 team in 15 years. This offseason, Iamaleava posted a 40-inch vertical jump, a 1.48 10-yard sprint and a 4.57 40.
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 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 🡒]