What UCLA Is Getting in Tight End Transfer Harry Lodge: A Veteran Presence With Something to Prove
UCLA’s tight end room just got a little more crowded-and a lot more experienced. With the addition of grad transfer Harry Lodge from Wake Forest, the Bruins bring in a player who’s been through the grind of college football and still has something left to prove. At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Lodge brings size, maturity, and a blocking-first mentality to a group that’s shaping up to be one of the more competitive position battles on the roster heading into spring camp.
The Journey So Far
Lodge’s college career has been anything but straightforward. Originally a three-star recruit out of Belmont Hill School in Massachusetts, he began his career at Wake Forest, redshirting in 2022.
Then came a whirlwind 2025: a transfer to Georgia Tech for spring ball, a return to Wake Forest later that same offseason, and now, a move to Westwood as a graduate transfer. He made his official visit to UCLA in mid-January and committed shortly after, becoming the Bruins’ final addition in the 2026 transfer cycle.
Rated as an 85-grade transfer prospect, Lodge isn’t a flashy name, but he’s a steady one-an experienced player who’s appeared in 22 college games and started in a handful of them. He’s battled through injuries, but when healthy, he’s shown flashes of being a reliable contributor on both ends of the tight end role: blocking and pass-catching.
What Lodge Brings to the Bruins
Physically, Lodge checks the boxes. He’s every bit of 6-6, and while he may not be the most explosive athlete on the field, he moves well for his size and has shown solid straight-line acceleration.
His 2024 season was his most productive to date, hauling in 12 catches for 110 yards over 10 games. In 2025, he started six games but was limited by injury.
Where Lodge really stands out is in the trenches. He’s a strong blocker, often used as the inline tight end and even featured as the lead blocker in receiver bunch formations.
That kind of versatility is invaluable, especially in Chip Kelly’s offense, which demands tight ends who can do a little bit of everything. One of his most notable plays came when he lined up in a blocking look and slipped downfield uncovered for a 31-yard reception-showing he can be more than just a safety valve when the opportunity presents itself.
A Crowded Room, But Opportunity Awaits
Let’s be clear: UCLA’s tight end room is packed. Lodge is the fourth tight end transfer to join the Bruins this offseason, alongside Josh Phifer (James Madison), Brayden Loftin (Kansas State), and Stevie Amar (Boston College). Add in returners like Noah Fox-Flores, who saw action as a true freshman, and redshirt freshman Dylan Sims, and you’ve got a logjam that will need sorting out in spring ball.
But that doesn’t mean Lodge won’t carve out a role. His blocking ability alone could earn him early snaps, especially in two-tight end sets or short-yardage situations. And his experience-both in terms of age and reps-gives him a leg up in a room filled with younger players still adjusting to the college game.
What Comes Next
UCLA had originally aimed higher in the portal, targeting a more dynamic receiving tight end to fill a specific role. When New Mexico transfer Dorian Thomas flipped to Cal after a verbal commitment to UCLA, the Bruins had to pivot. Lodge isn’t necessarily the vertical threat Thomas might have been, but he brings a well-rounded skill set and the kind of veteran presence that can stabilize a young group.
The battle for UCLA’s top tight end spot will likely come down to Lodge, Loftin, and Fox-Flores. All three have shown flashes, but none has fully broken out. For Lodge and Loftin, both seniors, this spring is a final shot to put it all together and finish their college careers on a high note.
In a room full of potential, Harry Lodge enters as the steady hand. He may not lead the team in receptions, but if UCLA needs a tight end to set the edge, pick up a blitz, or leak out for a clutch third-down catch, Lodge is the kind of player who can quietly make a big difference.