UCLA’s new era under Bob Chesney comes with a defense that needed real work, and outside linebacker Ryan McCulloch looks like one of the most important pieces in that rebuild.
McCulloch checks in at No. 8 on the Bruins’ top 30 players countdown for the 2026 season, and his path to Westwood has been a long one. He arrives after three seasons at Cal, where his best football came before a season-ending injury cut short what looked like a breakout junior year.
A former 3-star recruit out of Rio Hondo Preparatory School in Arcadia, California, McCulloch was a two-way force in high school. As a senior, he piled up 64 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 15 quarterback hurries on defense.
He also carried the ball 93 times for 897 yards and 10 touchdowns, caught 19 passes for 247 yards and three scores, and finished with 1,144 all-purpose yards. That season brought Gold Coast League Defensive MVP honors, along with first-team All-Southern Section and All-Gold Coast recognition.
Even with that production, McCulloch was still overlooked nationally in the 2023 class. According to the 247Sports Composite, he ranked 1,245th overall, 109th among athletes, and 115th in California. Colorado, Boise State, and Washington State showed interest, but he stayed in-state and signed with Cal.
He wasted little time getting on the field. As a true freshman, McCulloch played in 12 of Cal’s 13 games, missing only Week Two against Auburn. He finished with nine tackles, five of them solo, plus 0.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and even a 26-yard punt return.
His sophomore season brought another step forward. McCulloch appeared in 10 of 13 games and doubled his tackle total to 18, with nine solo stops. He added 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, showing more impact both against the run and coming off the edge.
Then came the start of his junior year, when he looked ready to put everything together. In Cal’s first four games, McCulloch posted 11 tackles, including four solo stops, along with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. But the Week four game against San Diego State ended with a season-ending injury.
That loss hit Cal’s defense hard. The Bears could still get after the quarterback, but their run defense slipped badly, and they allowed the fifth-most rushing yards in the ACC.
With younger players pushing for roles and a fresh start in mind, McCulloch entered the transfer portal. Chesney moved quickly, and McCulloch chose to stay in California and join UCLA.
There will be some rust to knock off after the injury, but the talent is obvious. Chesney and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler both want pressure on the quarterback and toughness against the run, and McCulloch fits that profile.
He was on pace for around six sacks and nearly 10 tackles for loss before getting hurt, and because he was able to redshirt, he still has seasons of eligibility left. That makes him a useful piece now and a potential building block beyond 2026.
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