UCLA’s offense may be getting a hard reset through the backfield.
After two straight seasons of dreadful rushing production, the Bruins look built to lean on the ground game in a way they simply haven’t lately. In 2024, UCLA finished third-worst in the nation in rushing yards, then landed 13th in the Big Ten in 2025. That kind of decline doesn’t just drag down one phase - it can choke off the entire offense.
Now, though, the Bruins appear to have a far better answer waiting in the running back room. James Madison transfer Wayne Knight joins returning backs Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas, giving UCLA what could become a three-man rotation with real punch.
Bob Chesney sounds ready to let that competition breathe. According to the Los Angeles Times, he sees value in having multiple backs who can carry the load over a full season.
“That room, I’m really looking forward to just seeing how they continue to jell together and grow, and see who starts to emerge a little more. But at that position, it’s very rare to make it through a whole season as a running back, so we’re going to need them all.”
Knight seems like the most likely candidate to open fall camp as the starter, but this doesn’t feel like a one-back operation. All three should see plenty of snaps, and all three matter if UCLA wants this thing to work.
There’s also the added wrinkle of Nico Iamaleava. Last season, he finished as the Bruins’ leading rusher with 505 total yards, but UCLA didn’t fully tap into what he can do as a runner. That decision ended up costing them, and it only adds to the sense that this offense has more layers now.
If the Bruins stay healthy through camp and come out of it sharp, they could have a sneaky dangerous offense in the Big Ten.
In Other News...
UCLA Camp Is Already Raising One Early Concern For Bruins Fans
A week into UCLA training camp, there are already signs that the Bruins are getting a better read on where some key pieces fit. Receiver Matthews has apparently been more involved in the offense, which is the kind of development the staff wants to see this time of year, while Wayne Knight continues to look like a dependable option in the backfield. There is enough positive momentum in those spots to suggest the offense is sorting itself out in a few important areas.
The concern, at least for now, is on the other side of the ball. Malik Hartford appears to be trending in the wrong direction, and the bigger worry is whether UCLA's defensive front line will be able to hold up against the run when the season starts for real. Training camp is designed to surface problems before they become full-blown issues, and this one already looks like it could stick around for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Mick Cronin Just Set A Standard This UCLA Roster Must Meet
Mick Cronin is once again pushing UCLA toward the kind of identity he believes travel well in March. The Bruins were solid enough last season to be above average on both ends, but Cronin made it clear that is not the bar in Westwood, where he wants this group to live in the top 10 nationally on offense and defense. It is the sort of standard that turns every practice, every rotation decision and every matchup into a test of whether this roster can match the coachs expectations.
The harder part, at least right now, is on the defensive end, where UCLA does not appear to have a player with the same kind of back-line insurance Adem Bona provided. Cronin sees that type of "mistake eraser" as a necessity if the Bruins are going to make a real postseason run, and finding out who can fill that role may end up shaping the season as much as any scoring answer. Until someone proves capable of doing it, the gap between being good and being built for March will remain the most important storyline around this team. [Read more 🡒]