Not every newcomer in a crowded UCLA transfer class is going to walk in and deliver instant results. With more than 40 transfers competing for just 22 starting spots, somebody was always going to get squeezed.
One name to watch on the defensive side is Gobaira. That doesn’t mean he’s been a bust - far from it - but he had a real chance to lock down a starting job and hasn’t quite done enough yet to make his spot on the depth chart feel secure.
The edge spot opposite Sahir West is still unsettled, though Ryan McCulloch appears to be the favorite once he’s fully healthy. Scott Taylor is also in the mix for first-team work, which only makes Gobaira’s path look murkier.
At receiver, the conversation has centered on Landon Ellis (James Madison), Brian Rowe Jr. (South Carolina), Aidan Mizell (Florida), and Semaj Morgan (Michigan).
Leland Smith, though, has been the one transfer who has slipped out of the spotlight. He hasn’t come up much at all during fall camp or in preseason scrimmaging, and that quiet stretch has stood out as a disappointment so far.
There’s still time for Smith to push his way back into the wideout race once the season starts, but right now he’s not part of the conversation the way he should be.
The third name on the list is Robell, and his case is a little different. He’s expected to start at center against Cal in Week 1, so the concern isn’t about how he’ll play.
It’s about whether he’ll be available. He’s been dealing with a lingering sprained MCL during preseason practice and has already missed a full week.
Bob Chesney doesn’t sound alarmed, but the injury is enough to raise questions.
Even without knowing exactly how serious it is, a lingering issue like that is the kind of thing a team would rather avoid. The good news for UCLA is that Derek Osman has been getting first-team reps while Robell has been out, which could pay off if the injury lingers into the season.
In Other News...
UCLA Scrimmage Just Raised New Questions About Nico And The Offense
UCLAs first preseason scrimmage offered the kind of early camp snapshot coaches usually want: a few encouraging signs, a few lingering issues, and plenty left to sort out before the opener. Nico Iamaleava has looked better in command and decision-making, which is the sort of progress the Bruins need as they try to settle the offense, and freshman CJ Lavender made a strong first impression with his physicality and feel for the game.
The bigger concern is up front, where injuries to presumed starting center Riley Robell have already nudged the depth chart. Derek Osman is presently working ahead of Sam Yoon, and that kind of shuffle can ripple through the entire offense this time of year, especially with a young quarterback still building timing and trust. It also leaves the Bruins with more questions than answers after their first live look at the roster. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Mourns Former Coach Whose Impact Reached Far Beyond Football
Frank Gansz Jr.s coaching life stretched across pro and college football, from the NFL to the CFL and spring leagues, and his name was one that followed special teams rooms around the sport for years. He died at 64, with the United Football League and the St. Louis Battlehawks announcing his death while noting his role as the teams special teams coordinator.
For UCLA, the news carries an added layer of meaning because Ganszs reach went well beyond the next game or the next stop on a coaching tree. His career included time with the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, along with stops at various college and professional programs, a rsum that reflected the kind of behind-the-scenes influence that can shape players and staffs long after the job changes. [Read more 🡒]