With UCLA’s season opener only a little more than two weeks away, the Bruins still have a chance to strengthen a roster that may not be finished yet. One name now sitting squarely in the conversation is James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick, who has entered the transfer portal after spending four years with the Dukes.
Hendrick’s timing makes him an especially intriguing fit. At this stage, he is not the kind of player who can easily start over at a brand-new school and still be ready to hit the ground running. He already knows UCLA’s defensive system, and he played under Colin Hitschler and Bob Chesney last season at James Madison, where he earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors.
That familiarity matters. A late move in the portal usually rewards the player and the program that already share a foundation, and UCLA checks those boxes. Hendrick would not be walking into an unfamiliar environment, and the Bruins would not need to spend precious time teaching him the basics of the defense.
His production at James Madison makes the case even stronger. Last season, Hendrick posted 106 total tackles, including 39 solo stops, along with three sacks. He also forced two fumbles, one of them coming in the College Football Playoff game against Oregon.
For UCLA, that kind of steadiness in the middle of the field would be a meaningful upgrade. The linebacker group is not the deepest or strongest spot on the roster, and Hendrick would instantly raise the ceiling there. A rotation featuring Hendrick, Sammy Omosigho, Donavyn Pellot, Drew Spinogatti, and Jalen Woods would look much more stable than what UCLA has now.
There has not been any public word that Chesney is actively pursuing Hendrick, but it is difficult to imagine this hasn’t already been discussed. Hendrick’s ties to the coaching staff, along with his connection to players such as Spinogatti, make this feel like a natural fit.
The bigger issue is timing. If UCLA wants Hendrick, it can’t drag this out.
The closer the Bruins get to Week 1, the less time there is to get him settled into the program. If this is going to happen, the staff needs to move now.
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