Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, talking UCLA.
The Bruins were a train wreck under DeShaun Foster last season, with a brief reprieve upon his firing and the promotion of Tim Skipper to interim head coach. That lasted three games before a five-game losing streak (with only one game being within three scores) saw them finish 3-9. In comes Bob Chesney from James Madison. He brings with him, among others, start RB Wayne Knight -- who rushed for nearly 1400 yards for the playoff Dukes. His import looks to bolster a UCLA rush attack that finished last season 85th in yards per game.
In 2025 the entire offense ran through QB Nico Iamaleava. To help him, Chesney and staff brought in six transfer portal WRs. Who are the names to know here and will one (or more) of them step up?
On defense, the Bruins's DL managed only 10 sacks last season. Sahmir West -- another JMU import -- was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and was a freshman All-America last season, posting seven sacks and 14 TFLs last season. At 6-4, 270 pounds, he has the length and mass needed to carry that success forward into the Big Ten. Four other key transfers join West on the DL, as the Bruins look to better affect the QB in 2026.
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