UCLA’s linebacker room got a lot more crowded, and a lot more interesting, with Trent Hendrick arriving just weeks before the season.
Hendrick, who entered the transfer portal only days ago, was granted a fifth year of eligibility and will finish his college career with the Bruins. Given the timing, UCLA is the easiest place for him to settle in quickly before the season starts.
The move is the latest example of Bob Chesney continuing to bring over former James Madison players, and it immediately changes the shape of UCLA’s linebacker depth chart.
The Bruins had initially planned to lean on a four-man group, but Hendrick’s arrival turns that into a five-man rotation. He joins Sammy Omosigho, Jalen Woods, Drew Spinogatti, and Donovyn Pellot.
Before Hendrick’s addition, Omosigho and Woods were projected as the starters, and with the opener against Cal so close, those two still look like the most likely pair to begin the season in that role. After that, though, things could get less clear.
Hendrick is described as a highly talented middle linebacker, and his presence should raise the level of the entire unit right away. Even if he doesn’t crack the starting lineup immediately, his talent and familiarity with teammates on defense could push him into that role later in the year.
That decision now falls to Colin Hitschler, who has to sort out how to use Hendrick so close to the season and then manage the rotation as the year goes on. Leaving the former Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year on the sideline would be a tough call.
For some of the Bruins already in the room, there’s now less room to breathe. Omosigho is the one linebacker whose role appears safest, with his status and snap count likely staying mostly the same after emerging as a leader of the defense this offseason.
The others could see their playing time shrink because there’s another experienced linebacker in the mix. UCLA didn’t bring Hendrick in as a pure depth piece, and that alone signals a real competition for snaps.
Over time, Hendrick’s workload should rise, and a starting job may not be far behind. It might not happen immediately, but by midseason - or even as early as conference play - the Bruins could be looking at a different starting lineup.
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UCLA Just Added A Veteran Linebacker This Defense Might Need
UCLAs defense picked up a notable boost with the addition of linebacker Trent Hendrick, who committed after a Louisiana court granted him a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, opening the door to one more season of eligibility. Hendrick arrives with real pedigree from James Madison, where he spent four seasons and earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025, giving the Bruins a veteran presence at a spot that rarely has enough of it.
The move also deepens the connection between UCLA and coach Bob Chesney, since Hendrick now joins him in Westwood after previously playing for him at James Madison. Hendrick is the 11th player to follow Chesney to UCLA, and he comes in as the most experienced player on the roster, a detail that matters for a Bruins defense still taking shape heading into the next phase of roster building. [Read more 🡒]
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