UCLA’s defensive front was a major weakness in 2025 - and the numbers weren’t subtle about it. Just 10 sacks and four interceptions all season?
That’s not just a red flag - that’s a full-blown siren. The Bruins struggled to generate pressure, and when quarterbacks are allowed to stand tall in the pocket with time to scan the field, bad things happen for a defense.
The result: a 3-9 season, a coaching change, and a roster overhaul. But now, with Bob Chesney taking the reins, there’s a new energy in Westwood - and it starts in the trenches.
Enter Sahir West.
If you’re looking for a foundational piece to build a defensive line around, West checks every box. He’s coming off a standout season at James Madison, where he anchored a Dukes front that helped power a surprise run to the College Football Playoff.
Now, he follows Chesney to UCLA with three full years of eligibility remaining - a rare gift in the transfer portal era. West isn’t just a short-term fix; he’s a long-term investment.
And if he can replicate the impact he had at JMU, the Bruins might finally have their disruptor up front.
But West isn’t coming alone.
UCLA went all-in on rebuilding the defensive line through the portal, and the haul is impressive. Aiden Gobaira, another James Madison transfer, brings experience and familiarity with Chesney’s system. He’s expected to step into a bigger role and help set the tone for a group that desperately needs to find its edge - literally and figuratively.
Then there’s the high-upside talent from Power Five programs. Maxwell Roy, a former 4-star recruit and All-American high school wrestler, arrives from Ohio State.
At 6-foot-3 and 301 pounds, Roy has the physical tools to be a problem in the middle. He was buried on a loaded Buckeyes depth chart, but the potential is there, and UCLA is betting on his breakout.
Sometimes, it’s all about the opportunity - and Roy should get plenty of it in Westwood.
Amier Washington comes in from Texas Tech, another player who didn’t see the field as much as expected but brings raw ability and upside. The same goes for Ryan McCulloch (Cal) and Dallin Havea (Utah Tech), two edge rushers who will compete for snaps and help bolster the rotation. Chesney’s clearly prioritizing depth and versatility, with a group that can rotate, stay fresh, and - most importantly - get after the quarterback.
Let’s be clear: this is a near-total overhaul. The 2025 defensive line is gone, whether by graduation or portal exits. What’s left is a blank canvas, and Chesney is painting it with his own brush - bringing in players who fit his style, his culture, and his vision for what UCLA football can be on the defensive side of the ball.
There’s still work to do. Chemistry doesn’t happen overnight, and no one’s crowning this group just yet.
But the potential? It’s there.
For the first time in a while, the Bruins have a defensive line that looks like it can actually dictate terms instead of reacting to them.
If this new-look front can start winning battles at the line of scrimmage, everything changes. Pressure leads to mistakes.
Mistakes lead to turnovers. And turnovers lead to wins - something UCLA fans are hungry to see again.