UCLA’s 2026 offense could end up looking a lot like James Madison’s, and that’s by design.
The Bruins brought in six transfers from JMU who are expected to matter right away, with running back Wayne Knight leading the group. Also headed to UCLA are interior offensive linemen Riley Robell and Carter Sweazie, tackle JD Dean, tight end Josh Phifer and wide receiver Landon Ellis.
Knight is the headliner and should sit at the center of UCLA’s offense in 2026. He was one of the most productive running backs in the country in 2025, and he powered a James Madison ground game that finished sixth nationally at 241.5 rushing yards per game. The Dukes rode that production all the way to a College Football Playoff berth.
Robell and Sweazie give UCLA a pair of experienced interior linemen who already know how to play at a high level. Robell is projected to start at center for the Bruins after a breakout 2025 season at James Madison, when he appeared in 13 games and made 11 starts at right guard. 247Sports ranked him as the 417th transfer and the 25th interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class.
Sweazie is expected to open 2026 as UCLA’s starting right guard. Over the past three seasons at James Madison, he played in 34 games and started 23 times at left guard. In 2025, he played in and started all 14 games.
The Bruins also added Phifer, who is projected to start at tight end. He caught four passes for 40 yards and a touchdown for James Madison in 2025, ranking third among the Dukes’ tight ends in receptions and receiving yards while tying for second in touchdown catches.
Ellis brings another proven piece to the offense. He finished second on James Madison in receptions behind Knight in 2025 with 36, led the team with 624 receiving yards and tied for the team lead with five touchdown receptions. UCLA will be his third program in as many years after he played in the Football Championship Subdivision in 2023 and 2024.
Dean is part of the same incoming group, though he is not currently listed on UCLA’s three-deep depth chart.
The transition should be smoother because of the staff overhaul around Chesney. Offensive line coach Chris Smith and head coach Bob Chesney both moved from James Madison to UCLA, and 10 assistant coaches followed Chesney as well. That kind of continuity should help the former Dukes settle in quickly, especially with several of them expected to start for the Bruins in 2026.
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UCLA Just Hit A Brutal Setback In Its 2027 QB Search
Bob Chesney has spent the summer building UCLAs 2027 recruiting class with a mix of defensive and offensive additions, and the early returns have kept the Bruins in the conversation nationally. Rivals currently has the class ranked 17th, a respectable spot for a group that has not picked up a commitment since June 30, but the bigger issue for UCLA has been finding a quarterback to anchor the cycle.
Brady Edmunds had been the most realistic target on the board, which is why his decision matters so much for the Bruins. With the Ohio State commit no longer a flip candidate, UCLAs options at quarterback in the 2027 class are suddenly thin, and Chesney may have to turn his attention to the 2028 cycle sooner than planned, where names like Josiah Boyd and Koa Malau'ulu could become part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA May Be Taking A Risky Path At Quarterback
UCLAs quarterback planning is already becoming a talking point under new coach Bob Chesney, even before the Bruins have settled into his first cycle of roster building. Jack Savage, who covers the program, argued that passing on a quarterback in the current class would not be a mistake if the staff believes the next wave of talent is better and the transfer portal can help bridge any gap. With a strong 2028 recruiting group on the horizon, that approach gives the Bruins a chance to be selective instead of forcing a long-term answer too early.
The risk, of course, is that quarterback is the one position where timing can turn a cautious plan into a scramble. UCLA is leaning on recruiting and portal strategy to manage the room going forward, and the staffs willingness to wait will say plenty about how it views the future behind center. If the Bruins do decide to hold off now, the real test will come later, when the next class and the portal market determine whether patience was smart roster management or a dangerous gamble. [Read more 🡒]