This post was updated Sept. 28 at 10:24 p.m.
UCLA football (0-3) has a chance to win its first game of the 2025 campaign when it faces Northwestern at Martin Stadium in the Bruins’ first Big Ten matchup of the season. After former Bruin head coach DeShaun Foster was fired, it opened a 30-day window for players to transfer. And while no one has departed Westwood yet, Saturday’s contest could reveal who will stay and who will redshirt and leave. Daily Bruin Sports editor Connor Dullinger gives his five main takeaways on who the squad should focus on retaining for the program’s future.
Sophomore wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer
Gilmer is easily the most talented and promising offensive weapon on the team.
He ranks first on the squad in receptions and receiving yards, garnering 16 and 174, respectively, through just three games.
The sophomore pass catcher appears to be redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s top target, providing consistent production and target share so far this season.
Gilmer will still have two years of eligibility after this season and will be an asset the Bruins should invest in.
Although he has yet to reach pay dirt this season, the Los Angeles local has shown premier talent and the ability to handle an alpha receiver payload. Gilmer garnered eight receptions for 87 yards in UCLA’s 30-23 loss to UNLV, with a touchdown reception that was eventually wiped due to an offensive penalty.
While UCLA’s receiving corps offers other options, none match Gilmer’s impact. Redshirt senior Titus Mokiao-Atimalala will graduate after this season, and junior Mikey Matthews has yet to show the skill set and production to come close to Gilmer’s contribution.
And with little to no depth behind them – or in the tight end room – retaining a threat like Gilmer is critical to the future aspirations of the program.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava
This may be a controversial pick.
UCLA fans have been disappointed by what the former five-star prospect has produced so far. He has yet to throw more than one touchdown in a game and has eclipsed 250 passing yards just once.
To be fair, the offensive line defending Iamaleava has prevented him from staying in the pocket and has provided minimal time for plays to progress downfield.
Regardless, given Iamaleava’s experience as a Volunteer and pedigree as a top-ranked high school prospect, the program has yet to see its return on the Iamaleava investment.
While UCLA fans sit in sorrow, Tennessee fans are cheering with jubilation.
Joey Aguilar – the Bruins’ starting signal-caller before Iamaleava entered Westwood – led them to a near-perfect record while dominating through the air, registering 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Iamaleava – who parted ways with the team in the offseason – has as many interceptions as passing touchdowns.
Iamaleava’s current status in Westwood is bleak, and his future could be even more cloudy.
But the reality is that the Bruins have no one else – at least on the same level as Iamaleava. He still has two years of eligibility and could flourish with multiple years under the leadership and guidance of Tino Sunseri.
And the cherry on top: If he stays, his brother, four-star prospect Madden Iamaleava, will stay too – giving the Bruins their cornerstone for the present and the future.
Running backs junior Jaivian Thomas, redshirt junior Anthony Woods and freshman Karson Cox
The Bruins do not run the ball well.
There is no other way around it.
They rank last in the Big Ten in rushing yards and have fumbled the ball more times than they have scored on the ground.
But I do not think the squad’s rushing performance is representative of the talent that exists in the backfield. Not only do the Bruins rank last in the conference in rushing attempts with only 80, they also boast one of the worst offensive lines in the country at amplifying the running game.
The lightning of the tailback room, junior Jaivian Thomas, showed at California that he could do a lot with limited opportunities.
He ran for 626 yards and seven touchdowns on just 100 carries. And while he has yet to replicate that production in Westwood, he still boasts a yards per carry clip of 4.6.
While the Bruins will most likely use a committee approach in the backfield, Thomas could easily be the team’s bell cow and will be the running back of the team’s future if given more opportunities.
If Thomas is lightning, then redshirt junior running back Anthony Woods is thunder.
Woods gives the Bruins versatility in the backfield, providing key blocking from the tailback position while also serving as a key feature in the passing game, already hauling in nine catches for 91 receiving yards and a touchdown.
And while freshman running back Karson Cox has yet to play a down in the blue and gold, he very well could be the next man up. He has the speed and agility to be a shifty, speedy runner that can log efficient clips and move the chains.
He was a top-ranked running back in California and could slide into redshirt senior Jalen Berger’s role after he graduates this Spring.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Isaiah Chisom
There is not much that is promising about this defense.
The unit has conceded 1,293 offensive yards through three games, has been outscored 108-43 and has registered just two sacks and X turnovers through three contests.
But if there is one bright spot, it’s redshirt sophomore Isaiah Chisom.
The middle linebacker plays alongside redshirt senior JonJon Vaughns and could easily take the play-calling role that has been manned by Vaughns and linebacker Carson Schwesinger the past two seasons.
Chisom ranks second in the Big Ten in tackles with 37 and was named to The Athletic’s Freshman All-American team after a stellar second year at Oregon State.
UCLA needs to throw out its defense and start over. But if they are going to do so, they need to build around the quarterback and the lone bright spot of the defense.
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri
While Sunseri may not be an athlete, he very well could be the most important face to keep in the building.
He has yet to deliver on what many expected him to bring over from Indiana’s record-breaking year last season, but little of that lack of production is due to his abilities as a coach, play-caller or personnel developer.
Sunseri is a winner – he has proven it at every stop of his young career.
And I do not think Westwood will be any different.
But it will take time.
He has proven time and again that he can develop quarterbacks of all levels and can lead explosive offenses.
It would be a waste of an opportunity and talent if the Bruins lost Sunseri. Once a new coach is hired and the program makeover commences, Sunseri will have the opportunity to build his program and his offense from scratch.
Sunseri is a prodigy, and he is looking for a place to cement a legacy.
And Westwood could be that place.
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