UCLA’s quarterback picture for the 2027 class may not be as urgent as some fans think.
That was the message Jack Savage, the Bruins’ football and recruiting reporter for 247Sports and CBS Sports, put out on X on Thursday after Huntington Beach four-star 2027 quarterback Brady Edmunds confirmed his commitment to Ohio State. Savage wrote that the Bruins “not getting a QB this cycle is more than okay in my opinion. 2028 class is stacked and gives Chesney and the staff much more runway to work with anyways...And the transfer portal will always be there.”
Edmunds is ranked as the 242nd prospect in the 2027 class, the 20th quarterback and the 19th player in California, according to 247Sports.
UCLA already has some options on the roster and more flexibility ahead. Starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava has two years of eligibility left, and the NFL Mock Draft Database currently lists him as the 144th prospect for the Annual Player Selection Meeting. Iamaleava also has the option of entering the 2027 NFL Draft.
The Bruins added two quarterbacks in the 2026 class: three-star D.J. Bordeaux from Parker, Colorado, and Ty Dieffenbach, a transfer from Cal Poly. For 2026, Iamaleava’s brother Madden, a redshirt freshman and a four-star prospect in the 2025 class, along with Colton Gumino, are projected as the backup quarterbacks.
Savage also pointed to UCLA’s work in the 2028 cycle, where the Bruins have already offered 22 quarterbacks, according to the 247Sports database. Four of those targets - Jayden Wade to Georgia, Kingston Preyear to Alabama, Lukas Prock to Indiana and James Armstrong to Penn State - are already committed elsewhere. The rest are described by 247Sports as “cool” on UCLA.
Among the quarterbacks UCLA has offered in 2028 are Washington legacy Titus Huard, the son of former Huskies quarterback Brock Huard, and Brady Quinn, the son of the former Notre Dame quarterback of the same name.
Savage’s broader point was that UCLA fans should not panic about the position. He said the Bruins can still land a veteran through the portal if they perform well, and that there is no need to push high school quarterbacks who would not be ready to start.
That approach fits with what Chesney has done throughout his career. UCLA’s new head coach has posted a winning season in 15 of his 16 years as a head coach, and if the Bruins turn in a strong 2026 season, they could be positioned to chase a top transfer quarterback in the 2026 portal. Iamaleava’s decision would have a major effect on how UCLA handles the position in that market.
Chesney is also off to a strong start on the recruiting trail. UCLA is currently ranked 19th in the 2027 class by 247Sports, putting the Bruins on pace for their best class since 2018. With Chesney, offensive coordinator and UCLA quarterbacks coach Dean Kennedy, and the rest of the staff in place, UCLA appears to have a plan for the future at quarterback.
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