The first of many have departed Westwood.
Junior defensive back Scooter Jackson plans to enter the transfer portal, which opens Jan. 2, according to On3.
Jackson played in all 12 of UCLA football’s 2025 fixtures as the team’s starting slot cornerback, where he captured a team-high two interceptions, a forced fumble and 44 tackles – the most among the squad’s cornerbacks and the third most among all defensive backs.
The Compton, California, local transferred back to Southern California after two seasons at Utah Tech, where he started in all 16 of his games, registering 55 tackles, nine pass breakups and a single interception.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Jackson boasts the frame and physical attributes to not only dominate smaller targets in the slot but also match bigger tight ends over the middle of the field or running backs out of the flat.
During the Bruins’ most recent 3-9 campaign – including an 0-4 opening stretch and a five-game losing streak to conclude 2025 – the secondary was one of the lone bright spots.
The defensive unit lost its coordinator three weeks into the season and ranked No. 81 in total defense and No. 123 in scoring defense, but its passing defense ranked No. 34 in the fewest passing yards allowed per game.
While Jackson still has the opportunity to return to Westwood, his departure seems all the more likely after announcing his plans to enter the portal just two days after the Bruins’ final game of the season and almost a full month before the official transfer window opens.
And Jackson may not be the only starting defensive back to depart the program.
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Rodrick Pleasant – one of the team’s two starting outside cornerbacks alongside junior Andre Jordan Jr. – posted an Instagram story of himself from the season with the words “Decisions Decisions Decisions…” above him.
Pleasant’s social media post came around an hour after Jackson’s plan to enter the portal was announced.
The loss of Pleasant and Jackson from the secondary – a unit that will also lose redshirt senior safety Key Lawrence due to exhausted eligibility – could be a detrimental hit to arguably the strongest part of an already struggling defense.
While Jackson’s departure is not official until the transfer window opens, his portal entry is the first of many that will ensue after the arrival of head coach Bob Chesney.
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