UCLA’s biggest offseason makeover may end up being felt most at wide receiver.
Bob Chesney has turned over the roster in a major way in his first offseason as the Bruins’ head coach, bringing in 62 new players for the 2026 college football season. That group includes 42 transfers, with the rest coming from the 2026 high school class. With that much movement, the competition across the roster is obvious, but the receiver room stands out as the spot worth watching closest.
That’s because UCLA’s production there was thin a year ago. Kwazi Gilmer led the Bruins with 535 yards and two touchdowns, and now he’s gone. Chesney responded by adding three receivers who should all be in the mix to become the team’s top target: Brian Rowe Jr., Leland Smith and Landon Ellis.
Rowe Jr. arrives after a rough season at South Carolina. A four-star recruit heading into last year, he was expected to make an immediate impact for the Gamecocks, but it never came together.
He finished with 19 catches for 149 yards and one touchdown before entering the portal and landing at UCLA. At 5-10, Rowe Jr. brings a little bit of everything: speed, route-running ability and value as a red-zone threat.
Smith took a longer road to this point. He started at a Juco school and climbed into a featured role at San Jose State.
Last season, he didn’t lead the Spartans in either receptions or yards, but he still posted a strong line with 43 catches for 688 yards and three touchdowns. Listed at 6-4 and 218 pounds, Smith gives UCLA the kind of outside target who can win with size, speed and contested catches, even against a fast corner.
Ellis may be the most polished fit of the group. He spent his first two college seasons at Richmond before transferring to James Madison, where he had his breakout year under Chesney.
Ellis caught 36 passes for a team-high 624 yards and five touchdowns, then followed Chesney to UCLA. He’s viewed as an instant starter and brings clean route-running, slot versatility and the ability to create after the catch.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
UCLAs Offense May Rise Or Fall With Bob Chesneys JMU Pipeline
The Bruins offensive makeover has a familiar footprint, with six transfers arriving from James Madison as Bob Chesneys influence begins to show in Westwood. The group includes running back Wayne Knight, interior linemen Riley Robell and Carter Sweazie, tackle JD Dean, tight end Josh Phifer and wide receiver Landon Ellis, giving UCLA a ready-made cluster of players who already know the system and the expectations that come with it.
For UCLA, the appeal is obvious: Knight brings proven backfield production, Robell and Sweazie are positioned to anchor the middle of the line, and the rest of the JMU contingent could fill important roles as the Bruins try to stabilize an offense that needs cohesion fast. The bigger question is how much of this pipeline can translate from one program to another, and whether the Bruins can turn that shared background into something more than just a familiar reunion. [Read more 🡒]