UCLA gymnast and 2024 Olympian Jordan Chiles is making waves on season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars” alongside professional dance partner Ezra Sosa. Former UCLA men’s basketball player Baron Davis was also cast on the show but was eliminated in week one. Athletes are often credited with performing particularly well on the show given their athletic abilities, experience being coached and the way they perform under pressure. But which of Chiles’ peers at UCLA would do well on the show? Daily Bruin Sports gives its take on which UCLA student athletes could shine on the dance floor.
Jose Contell, Men’s soccer (2021-2024)
Connor Dullinger, Sports editor
Most backflips at UCLA happen at Pauley Pavilion.
Whether it’s dismounting from the uneven bars or beam, finishing a pass on a floor routine or springing off the vault apparatus, acrobatics are typically reserved for the seven-time national champion UCLA gymnastics team.
But if you are Jose Contell, the grass of Wallis Annenberg Stadium is your open gym.
The former Bruin forward is one of few non-gymnastic athletes to possess the athleticism, center of balance and explosion to casually celebrate their goal or good play with an acrobatic show.
If Contell can flip, spin and turn on the wet and slippery grass of Wallis Annenberg Stadium, he should have no problem tearing up the dance floor on “Dancing with the Stars”.
But the Valencia, Spain, local also possesses the persona and character to win the love and appreciation from the show’s faithful audience. Contell was often referred to as the team’s “papa” and was a fan and teammate favorite among the men’s soccer team.
His down-to-earth approach would boost fan attraction and retention, and his nurturing and wisdom-giving leadership style would allow him to work seamlessly with any dance partner.
Combine uncanny acrobatics, the fearlessness to perform such acts on wet grass after already playing an entire soccer match, a bubbling and radiant personality that is appreciated by those around him and a knack for embracing leadership and cooperation, and you have the makings of the 35th champion of the biggest dancing show in the world.
Chae Campbell, Gymnastics (2021-2025)
Ella Dunderdale, Assistant Sports editor
When it comes to combining artistry with precision, few do it as well as Chae Campbell.
The 2025 UCLA graduate received a slew of accolades across her five-season tenure in Westwood, including 2025 Big Ten All-Around champion and 2021 Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, picking up 14 All-American honors along the way.
Her first perfect 10 on “Dancing with the Stars” would be all but expected – and hardly a new phenomenon.
She has already done it three times on floor – the gymnastics event that blends dancing and acrobatics – which would likely be similar to what she would perform on the show.
Campbell focuses on the details – competing in a sport where a single unpointed toe can determine the outcome. She has been a consistent all-around competitor throughout her career, delivering dependable performances across every apparatus.
She is also teachable, receiving a well-rounded dance education from associate head coach BJ Das that taught her to pick up choreography fast.
[Related: Coach BJ Das brings creativity, community to UCLA shaping lives beyond the mat]
But to go far in “Dancing with the Stars,” you don’t just need the talent – you need votes.
And when it comes to fan support, Campbell has it in spades.
The Carrollton, Texas, local has had her fair share of viral moments – including her Black Panther-themed floor routine, which she debuted in her senior year.
The performance garnered nearly 300,000 views on social media and even became a meme throughout the gymnastics world.
With her blend of grit, talent and undeniable star power, Campbell has everything it takes to make it to the very end.
Ryder Dodd, Men’s Water Polo (2024-present)
Felicia Keller, Daily Bruin senior staff
Precision is the name of Ryder Dodd’s game.
The sophomore attacker’s goal scoring is elite. As a freshman, Dodd was awarded the Peter J. Cutino award for the best player in men’s college water polo.
He set an MPSF record with 102 goals – enough for the second-most in UCLA history. This season, he’s again averaging over a hat trick per game and has led the Bruins in scoring in 10 of their 13 games.
And that attention to detail and athletic prowess could transfer smoothly to ballroom dancing. With all the treading water Dodd does, he should have the leg and hip strength to put together a powerful salsa, rumba or samba.
But success on “Dancing with the Stars” isn’t just about excelling on the dance floor and winning in the judges’ eyes.
You have to connect with the audience and earn votes from viewers to stay in the competition.
Dodd is more than prepared to step into the spotlight and crush it on social media – he’s reliably one of the best interviews on his team, if not one of the best among male athletes at UCLA.
But he’s also got enticing storylines.
“Dancing with the Stars” loves an Olympian. Dodd joins Chiles in that category and does so with a bronze medal. His brother Chase – who’s also on the UCLA team and a Team USA Olympian – would also make an amazing honoree on the show’s Dedication Night.
Dodd is somewhat comparable to Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old Australian phenom who’s paired up with professional dancer Witney Carson this fall.
In a future season, maybe Dodd will be right up there with Carson, dancing through the weeks and across the floor.
Key Lawrence, Football (2024-present)
Grant Walters, Assistant Sports editor
Dancing is all about confidence.
Take it from someone who crushed the dance floor first at his junior prom.
And confidence is not something that redshirt senior defensive back Key Lawrence lacks.
The former Ole Miss player frequently cracks jokes, recounts stories and commands the stage with an ear-to-ear smile and wide eyes that can light up a room of sleep-deprived reporters.
Even on the field, Lawrence frequently swayed his body to mirror the rhythm of the music blaring from the Spaulding Field speakers throughout spring training camp, which helped display the defensive back’s exuberant personality.
I said the Bruins were “having fun” in one of my spring camp articles, reflecting a shift in UCLA football’s culture and Lawrence’s on-the-field presence inspired that characterization.
But confidence can only get you so far, especially with a dancing partner.
For this, you need chemistry.
Despite joining last December, Lawrence has built significant bonds with his teammates, and many label the defensive back as a prominent leader in the locker room.
The Nashville, Tennessee, local’s magnetism would allow him to thrive with any dancing partner, making him a versatile option to pair with perhaps more talented dancing partners.
Lawrence boasts the self-confidence and sociability to captivate an audience’s attention with his exuberance, but he also wields the leadership skills to establish formidable partnerships – both of which are “Dancing with the Stars” requisites.
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