This post was updated Oct. 16 at 9:01 p.m.
He came off the edge, spun into the pocket and knocked Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles out of the game.
It looked brutal – and sounded worse.
But for redshirt senior defensive lineman Keanu Williams, it was just opportunity meeting preparation.
“That play wasn’t even supposed to go to me at all,” Williams said. “It just so happened to be a really big hit.”
The moment capped off another stout defensive performance that extended UCLA football’s midseason shift. Since its inaugural victory over Penn State, the Bruin defense has found rhythm and identity under interim head coach Tim Skipper and senior defensive analyst Kevin Coyle.
Williams pointed to the improved grasp of the playbook as the reason for the midseason shift. While the group had just over a week to prepare under the new staff before facing Northwestern, the team has now had two to three weeks to get comfortable under the current system.
The former Oregon transfer called the Penn State victory the turning point, with UCLA building on that momentum by limiting Michigan State to 253 total yards – the fewest it has allowed in a game this season – and forcing four turnovers.
One such takeaway came from redshirt senior defensive lineman Devin Aupiu, who said he widened his alignment on third-and-7 before executing a pass-rush move that led to a strip-sack.
“Great covers by the DBs (defensive backs) and linebackers,” Aupiu said. “That’s what allowed me to get home and execute for us.”
Coyle arrived in Westwood in late September, following the departure of former defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe – and he has brought with him a dramatic statistical swing.
UCLA gave up 31.3 points per contest over its first four games. In the two games since, that number has dropped to 25.
Skipper said the difference stems from increased focus on technique, drilling footwork and contact mechanics during position time.
“It’s more fundamentals than it is actual scheme,” Skipper said. “We do drills when we get the time that are specifically to use your weapons – your eyes, feet and hands.”
In Skipper’s view, many of the defensive mistakes early in the season came from mechanical breakdowns: tackling form, footwork and resetting after contact.
Consequently, he’s emphasized full‑pad practices and targeted drill work during positional periods.
Williams added that the staff change required adjustments in the defense’s approach.
“We had to really hone in on small details and different ways of playing stuff – that was what we were last year, or earlier this year,” Williams said.
The Bruins’ time of possession advantage Saturday – 36:24 to 23:36 – further forced the Spartans into longer drives under pressure.
Meanwhile, UCLA’s ground game flourished: 238 yards rushing on 43 carries – nearly triple what Michigan State generated.
Aupiu also noticed a shift in mood and expectation, speaking of “happy Sundays,” where energy and optimism permeate the locker room.
“It’s been good,” Aupiu said. “Everyone’s vibes are up.”
With clearer roles, simplified reads and a more consistent front, the Bruins have started to close the gaps that plagued them throughout their opening weeks. Six different defenders recorded a sack in the past three games, and the rotation has deepened.
“We’re just having fun with it,” Skipper said. “We’ve had a lot going on, so we’ve just been focused on being together and doing this together.”
For Skipper, maintaining that momentum also means rallying the fan base behind a program trying to reestablish itself.
He said he’s seen growing excitement from students and alumni heading into Saturday’s homecoming game and wants that to mirror the team’s own surge in energy.
“Winning’s going to create excitement,” Skipper said. “We need everybody in that Rose Bowl on Saturday. It’s homecoming, it’s one of the best facilities in the world and the louder it gets, the better our chances of winning.”
And as the Bruins continue their midseason push under Skipper and Coyle, that renewed sense of belief and momentum has become the clearest marker of their redemption.
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