This post was updated Aug. 28 at 4:45 p.m.
As UCLA football gears up for its second year under coach DeShaun Foster and second season in the Big Ten, Daily Bruin Sports will preview the personnel of each of the Bruins’ position groups and predict their 2025 outlook prior to the season’s official start. Assistant Sports editor Ella Dunderdale will continue the series with a dive into the squad’s secondary.
Personnel
Sweeping changes to both UCLA football’s culture and roster have defined coach DeShaun Foster’s brief tenure as Westwood’s head honcho.
And the defensive backfield is no exception.
UCLA’s entire starting secondary departed after the 2024 season, leaving a crew of freshmen, transfers and former backups to pick up the pieces.
Four of last year’s five starters graduated, including nickel back K.J. Wallace, whose 57 tackles led the secondary throughout his senior season. He was joined by Bryan Addison, who tied the team lead with two interceptions. Cornerback Jaylin Davies – a starter for the Bruins since 2022 – transferred to Oklahoma State for his senior season.
Despite losing the majority of defensive snaps, the outgoing group underperformed, with the Bruins’ secondary, allowing an average of 244.7 passing yards per game, ranking 107th in the nation and second-to-last in the Big Ten.
The roster turnover may have been exactly what the secondary needed — a fresh group to flip the script.
Foster dipped into the transfer portal to replace the 2024 squad, nabbing experienced playmakers to bolster a relatively inexperienced crew.
Redshirt senior Key Lawrence headlines the new unit and will suit up for his fourth squad in five years at UCLA – most recently lining up for Ole Miss, where he played in four games before redshirting. The safety has amassed 158 tackles, three interceptions and six forced fumbles throughout his collegiate career. Lawrence passed his most productive seasons at Oklahoma, where he consistently had at least 40 tackles in a year.
Defensive back Bryon Threats also stands out in the position group. The redshirt senior tallied 115 tackles and four interceptions during his two-year stint with Cincinnati and arrives in Westwood after a year at Central Florida.
Several incoming freshmen talents also have the chance to make waves, including safety Jadyn Hudson. The Pittsburg, California, local amassed 34 tackles and seven interceptions during his senior season at Pittsburg High School and is a four-star recruit according to ESPN. The first-year student is joined by a pair of standout cornerbacks, LaRue Zamorano III and Chase Coleman, four- and three-star recruits, respectively.
Additionally, several backups from 2024 have the opportunity to rise to the occasion this season and fill in the experiential gaps left by the portal. Redshirt junior safety Croix Stewart registered 12 tackles last year in a reserve role, while redshirt freshman Jamir Benjamin – a four-star cornerback out of Michigan – is still looking to capitalize on playing time.
Predictions
With such a new and inexperienced roster – half of the second-string secondary departed as well – it is difficult to gauge how well this group gels together come Aug. 30. But one person could provide stability to the defensive unit: defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe.
Malloe is one of just three returning coaches on the Bruins, and he has the resume to back it up. Under his guidance last season, the Bruins posted the sixth-best rushing defense in the nation, allowing just 96.2 yards per game.
Although statistics don’t reflect favorably on Malloe’s defense against pass-heavy offenses, new coaching additions could help boost this year’s pass-defense performance.
The Bruins welcomed back Demetrice Martin as the passing game and secondary coordinator. Martin brings 26 years of experience coaching defensive backs, including bowl game victories in 2022 and 2024 at Oregon. He was part of the Bruins’ staff from 2012-2017, and he returns to Westwood with his son and former four-star recruit Cole Martin.
A depth-chart shuffle is nothing new for Malloe — the squad retained only one starter in the secondary entering last year. He is well-versed in building a passing defense, and he brings added experience to strengthen the defensive backfield in his second year at the helm.
With a handful of players with potential and a knowledgeable staff leading the way, one could say that UCLA’s secondary can only climb up.
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