The first snaps of UCLA’s season against Cal should answer a lot of the questions that have hovered over camp, and a few position battles already feel close to settled.
At tight end, the choice appears to come down to James Madison transfer Josh Phifer and Kansas State transfer Brayden Loftin. Phifer looks more like the blocking option, and his connection with the other former Dukes on offense gives him a leg up. With UCLA expected to lean run-heavy in Week One, Phifer gets the nod as the “start” and Loftin as the “sit.”
A couple of the receiving spots look clearer. Landon Ellis and Brian Rowe Jr. are the obvious starters, but the third role is still up for grabs.
Leland Smith has stayed quiet in camp, and Aidan Mizell has continued to deal with injuries, which leaves Semaj Morgan and Mikey Matthews in the mix. In a tough road opener, Matthews feels like the safer bet for that last starting job, especially because of his previous connection with Iamaleava and the number of moving parts on this offense.
On the edge, transfer Sahir West is the easy call for one starting spot. The other side is less certain, though Chesney has said in the past that the Bruins would rotate and use more than just the starters on the defensive line. Once Ryan McCulloch is back, he should move into that starting role as soon as he’s physically able to.
Inside, the competition still includes Maxwell Roy, Amier Washington, Tyson Ford, and Darold DeNgohe. Ford has shown up as a frequent starter during fall camp, so he looks set for one of the jobs. DeNgohe is the other name I’d lean toward, though any of those four could still end up there instead.
Trent Hendrick is an interesting addition, but I don’t expect him to open the season on the field. For now, Jalen Woods and Sammy Omosigho should start as the linebacking pair, even if that changes later in the season.
In the secondary, Rodrick Pleasant and DJ Barksdale look locked in at two cornerback spots. The real question is what happens with veteran Cole Martin.
If he stays at safety, Dante Lovett would be the best bet for the third corner job. If Martin moves to corner, then Ohio State transfer Malik Hartford would be the pick to start at safety in his place.
In Other News...
UCLA Football Has An L.A. Problem Fans Cant Ignore
USCs season opener against San Jos State drew attention for more than the score, because the crowd size was another reminder that college footballs old hold on Los Angeles has loosened. UCLAs own decision to dismiss athletic director Martin Jarmond because of financial challenges only added to the sense that the Bruins are operating in a far tougher environment than the one that once defined the sport in the city. The backdrop is bigger than one game or one campus - it is a broader drop in attendance and cultural pull that has changed how fans in Southern California spend their fall weekends.
The return of the NFL to Los Angeles has only sharpened the competition, giving fans more options and, in some cases, stronger reasons to stay home or split loyalties. With pro teams now anchored in the market and stadium geography shaping how people connect to each side, UCLA is left fighting for relevance in a crowded landscape where college football no longer owns the stage the way it once did. For the Bruins, the problem is not just filling seats on Saturdays. It is trying to remind the city why those seats matter in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA's 2026 Roster Talent Just Changed The Big Ten Conversation
247Sports latest 2026 College Football Team Talent Composite gave UCLA another marker to point to as it settles into the Big Ten, with the Bruins landing 24th nationally. The ranking is built from high school recruiting alone, counting commits and star ratings rather than transfers or what players go on to become, but it still offers a snapshot of where the roster stack-up stands right now.
UCLAs class profile is the part that jumps out: one five-star prospect, 18 four-stars and 75 three-stars, good for 768.99 total points and an average of 87.31 per player. In a league where talent perception matters as much as results, that kind of volume gives the Bruins a reason to believe the conversation around their roster is starting to look a little different. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs 2027 Commits Are Already Giving Bruins Fans A Reason To Watch
With UCLA already looking ahead to the future, a couple of 2027 commits have given Bruins fans an early reason to track high school football scores on Friday nights. Duece Jones-Drew turned in a strong showing by rushing for 84 yards and three touchdowns, while Michael Farinas kept showing the kind of versatility that makes him such an intriguing piece for the Bruins next wave of talent.
Farinas recent game offered a little of everything, as he contributed as a receiver, runner and passer, the kind of multi-role performance that stands out this early in the recruiting cycle. UCLAs 2027 commitment group still has a lot of football ahead, and the upcoming schedule for those players will keep drawing attention as the Bruins continue following their future class closely. [Read more 🡒]