Scott Taylor didn’t take the usual path to becoming one of UCLA’s most intriguing young defenders. He arrived in Westwood after a high school career that kept building and building, then flashed right away as a true freshman in a season where the Bruins needed any spark they could find.
Taylor’s background starts at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, where he put together a four-year run that turned him into a standout linebacker. He earned his first starting role as a sophomore and responded with 89 total tackles, 38 solo tackles and four sacks. As a junior, he followed that with 77 total tackles, 23 solo tackles and a career-best six sacks, while also picking up recognition as a Los Angeles Times All-Star, the Angelus League Defensive Player of the Year for 2023 and a MaxPreps All-State Third Team defense selection for 2023.
His senior year was the one that really separated him from the pack. Taylor posted career highs with 91 tackles, 26 solo tackles and seven sacks, and his best performance came against Mount Miguel High School, when he piled up 13 total tackles, added a sack and recovered a fumble that set up a touchdown on the Cubs’ first offensive drive. That season also earned him spots on the All-CIF Southern Section Division 3 Team and the All-Mission League First Team Defense.
Even with that production, Taylor was only rated as a 3-star prospect by the major recruiting services. Still, his ability to play linebacker and rush the passer drew plenty of attention, with Arizona, Arizona State and USC all showing interest.
In the end, he chose UCLA, telling Chad Simmons of On3, “What led me to UCLA was the new culture with the new staff, their modern defensive scheme, and most importantly the love they showed me. They make it feel like home,” Taylor said.
That fit looked promising, but the situation around him changed quickly. DeShaun Foster was let go after UCLA dropped its first three games, and the Bruins finished 3-9 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten.
It was a rough year for the program, but Taylor was one of the few bright spots from the 2025 freshman class. He played in all 12 games on defense and special teams, one of seven freshmen to see the field, and finished with 12 tackles, six solo tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
His biggest moment came in the upset of Penn State, when he forced the fumble on the Nittany Lions’ final drive to help seal the 42-37 win.
The roster turned over heavily after the season, with 49 players leaving through the transfer portal as the coaching situation sorted itself out. Taylor stayed put, waiting to see who would lead the program next, and once Bob Chesney was hired, he remained in Westwood. At Chesney’s introductory press conference, Taylor explained why he was encouraged by the move.
“Once I knew he was our coach, I wanted to see what they’re all about,” Taylor said. “I don’t know the intricacies of his defense, but you see the aggressive play style.
People running to the ball. All that stuff is good to see.”
Now, heading into April, Taylor appears ready for a bigger role. He says he’s comfortable with the expanded workload and embraces the chance to do more.
"It's been great. I like being versatile," said Taylor.
"It's one of the things I think I'm great at. I really pride myself on being able to do multiple things.
I know they see that, and being able to line up off the edge, pass rush, and have your sets come off from behind the ball, that really plays to my skill set."
That versatility is exactly why Taylor matters so much to UCLA’s defense moving forward. He’s still just entering his sophomore year, but the Bruins see him as a long-term piece, especially with Oklahoma transfer Samuel Omosigho set to line up next to him. With UCLA finishing last in the Big Ten in sacks with just 10, Taylor could spend even more time rushing off the edge next season, and help from Sahir West and Aiden Gobaira - both following Chesney from James Madison - should only sharpen that part of his game.
For Chesney, keeping Taylor in the fold is a real win. For UCLA, it’s a sign that one of the program’s most promising young defenders is staying right where the Bruins need him.
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