UCLA football will not play its first game of the 2026 campaign until Sept. 5 against California. But that does not mean there are not positional battles across the gridiron. Throughout the rest of spring and summer camp, the Bruins will be jockeying with one another for top positions on the depth chart. With this in mind, Daily Bruin Sports editor Connor Dullinger gives his predictions for the offensive starting 11 come game one of 2026.
Offense:
Quarterback:
Nico Iamaleava, redshirt junior, 6’6”, 215 lbs
2025 stats at UCLA: 1,928 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions, 505 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns
This was an obvious pick. Nico Iamaleava started 11 games for the Bruins last season, and while he failed to replicate his Tennessee production, a large part of that came from the personnel he had and dysfunction across the coaching staff. Iamaleava lost his head coach after just three games and his offensive coordinator after four, and he lacked the protection needed up front to allow plays to develop and give him time in the pocket to operate. Iamaleava was sacked 27 times through 11 appearances, ranking No. 23 in the nation. With a full offseason under his belt, continuity across the coaching staff and a majorly revamped offensive line and skill positions, Iamaleava should have all the tools necessary to succeed in 2026.
Running back:
Wayne Knight, redshirt senior, 5’7”, 190 lbs
2025 stats at JMU: 1,373 rushing yards, 6.6 yards per carry, nine rushing touchdowns, 397 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown
There will not be just one bell cow in the Bruins’ 2026 running back room. Head coach Bob Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy have made that clear throughout spring practices. The coaches stressed the importance of depth at the position group and that there will be ample opportunities to go around. Considering this and the personnel in what I consider one of the strongest, deepest and most versatile groups on the roster, I believe the Bruins will use a three-headed committee to dominate the ground game. But getting the most touches in the room will be Wayne Knight. The James Madison transfer was dubbed an AP Second Team All-American all-purpose player and totaled over 1,700 yards of offense and double-digit touchdowns across his last season with the Dukes. And despite his small stature, Knight proved he could handle the giants of the Big Ten, rushing for 110 yards on 6.5 yards per carry against Oregon in the first round of the College Football Playoff. His vision, patience and size allow him to attack those smaller holes at the line of scrimmage, and he has solid breakaway speed to garner rushes of 20-plus yards.
Jaivian Thomas, senior, 5’11”, 195 lbs
2025 stats at UCLA: 294 rushing yards, 3.6 yards per carry, one rushing touchdown, 64 receiving yards
While I believe Knight will get the majority of touches, there will be no true RB1 in this offense. Jaivian Thomas will split the early-down role with Knight, and do not let his 2025 stats fool you. While he struggled to take off under UCLA’s offense last season, he showed he could compete at a high level two seasons ago at Cal. Thomas ran for 626 yards and seven touchdowns on 6.3 yards per carry during the 2024 season. And with a revamped offensive line and an expected jump from Iamaleava, the passing game should open up, which will allow the rushing game to flourish as defenses are forced to respect Iamaleava’s strong arm and the receivers on the outside. If Thomas is going to replicate or improve on his 2024 season, this is the year to do it, even if his carries are split between other backs.
Anthony Woods, redshirt senior, 5’11”, 185 lbs
2025 stats at UCLA: 294 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 211 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns
If Knight and Thomas are going to split early- and every-down roles in Kennedy’s offense, then Anthony Woods is going to be the third-down and receiving back. Woods is a versatile rusher who can be a good pass blocker and an effective receiving threat out of the backfield or in the flat. Woods caught two touchdown passes from Iamaleava last season, including a 19-yard reception in game one against Utah and a 45-yard catch-and-run against Nebraska at the Rose Bowl. I expect Woods to be in on third down, where he can either be an additional blocker in the backfield or an extra threat in the passing game, so Iamaleava can dump the ball off to or find him open in space. Woods is also an effective runner, averaging 4.7 yards per carry last season and running for 1,131 yards in Idaho in 2023.
Wide receiver:
Landon Ellis, senior, 6’2”, 213 lbs
2025 stats at JMU: 36 receptions, 624 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns
The Bruins lost three of their top four receivers last year in Kwazi Gilmer, Rico Flores Jr. and Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, making replenishing the wideout room a top priority. And Chesney and his staff wasted no time filling the gaps. Taking the WR1 role on the outside will be Landon Ellis. The senior wide receiver has the most experience in Kennedy’s offensive scheme, logging 624 receiving yards and five touchdowns for JMU last season. Ellis boasts trusty hands and brings a big and physical body to the wide receiver room, making him a reliable possession target. I see Ellis being one of Iamaleava’s favorite targets for his trustworthy hands and toughness needed to operate effectively over the middle of the field. And Ellis showed he can produce on the big stage, catching three passes for 83 yards against Oregon in the College Football Playoff. He may lack Gilmer’s athleticism and flashiness, but he may earn more production because of his reliability and physicality.
Brian Rowe Jr., sophomore, 6’0”, 170 lbs
2025 stats at South Carolina: 19 receptions, 149 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown
There may be no one who has impressed more through the offseason than Brian Rowe Jr. The sophomore wide receiver boasts elite athleticism and speed, allowing him to do damage in the middle of the field. If he sees open grass ahead or is running at full speed, he can make a multitude of defenders miss. Rowe has already made some highlight-reel catches, showing off his hands and catch radius. I see Rowe operating on the other boundary opposite Ellis, giving Iamaleava a straight deep shot on a go route or someone who can carve up the middle of the defense on crossers. His speed gives him the ability to separate from defensive backs in coverage, his jumping ability allows him to high-point the ball and his lateral elusiveness gives him real yard-after-catch ability. I can also see Kennedy using Rowe as a runner on sweeps or screens.
Semaj Morgan, senior, 5’10”, 174 lbs
2025 stats at Michigan: 20 receptions, 223 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown
The battle for the starting slot receiver spot is going to be a tough one. Senior wide receiver Mikey Matthews gets an advantage, having been at UCLA for a year already and showing he can produce, catching 33 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns. But I believe by the start of game one of the 2026 season, it will be Semaj Morgan operating out of the slot. Morgan brings three years of experience at the Big Ten level, logging 69 receptions, 566 receiving yards and four touchdowns over three seasons at Michigan. While there may be concerns with his hands, he is an all-purpose player, taking kicks and punts at Michigan – something Matthews did at UCLA too, to be fair. Not only is Morgan a veteran leader, he has also shown he can consistently produce at a Big Ten juggernaut in Michigan, particularly in an offensive scheme that is run-heavy. However, I can see Morgan and Matthews splitting time at slot depending on strategy and opponent.
Tight end:
Joshua Phifer, redshirt junior, 6’6”, 259 lbs
2025 stats at JMU: Four receptions, 40 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown
If there is a gap in the Bruins’ offensive skill positions, it is at the tight end spot. The Bruin coaching staff brought in four tight ends through the portal this offseason, all boasting little stats to their names. And the one returning UCLA tight end who contributed last season is sophomore Noah Fox-Flores, who made one catch for four yards and a touchdown. That is why I have tabbed former JMU tight end Joshua Phifer as the day one starter. While Phifer holds stats that are nothing to write home about, totaling four catches for 40 yards and a score, he is the most familiar with Kennedy’s scheme and is in a wide-open room for 2026. And with little competition from the other transfers, I expect Phifer to top the depth chart come game one.
Offensive line:
Left tackle:
Jordan Davis, redshirt senior, 6’5”, 305 lbs
I do not think there is any debate on who UCLA’s starting left tackle will be. Jordan Davis comes to Westwood with over 2,000 collegiate snaps under his belt and an all-conference selection in 2024. The Bruin offensive line struggled last year, particularly on Iamaleava’s weak side with former Bruin Courtland Ford unable to seal the edge and protect the pocket from opposing pass rushers. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, Davis is a massive lineman who can protect Iamaleava’s blind side and help fortify a powerful run game. In 2024, Davis was part of a South Alabama offense that broke school records in total touchdowns, points scored, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total offense. And before a season-ending injury in 2025, Davis helped lead an offense that ranked top-20 in the nation in rushing yards per game. Veteran experience at left tackle is imperative to an offensive line, and Davis’ resume is long.
Left guard:
Eugene Brooks, redshirt sophomore, 6’4”, 340 lbs
Eugene Brooks is one of two returners from last year’s starting offensive line at UCLA, and apart from former Bruin Garrett DiGiorgio, he may have been the sole bright spot on the Bruins’ offensive front. Retaining Brooks at UCLA was major for Chesney and his staff, and Brooks still boasts multiple years of eligibility, giving UCLA a key piece to build around for the future. I almost left Brooks out of my starting 11 with the additions of former JMU linemen Riley Robell and Carter Sweazie and the return of redshirt senior offensive lineman Sam Yoon, but I think Brooks would have left UCLA if he wasn’t at least given the opportunity to start from day one. Brooks was one of the Bruins’ best offensive linemen last season, and with another offseason under his belt, he could take another leap with eligibility remaining after the 2026 season.
Center:
Riley Robell, redshirt junior, 6’3”, 291 lbs
Whether it’s guard spot or center, Chesney and offensive line coach/run game coordinator Chris Smith will find a way to have Robell in the Bruins’ starting offensive front. Robell was named a Second Team All-Sun Belt offensive lineman this past season and was an integral piece of a JMU offense that ranked in the upper echelon of many offensive categories, including No. 9 in the FBS in scoring, No. 16 in total offense, No. 2 in time of possession, No. 6 in rushing and No. 19 in third-down conversion. While Robell made 11 starts at right guard, he can slide into the center spot and often did throughout spring practice while Yoon dealt with an injury. Robell boasts the size, versatility and experience to play either guard spot or center, and given his familiarity with Kennedy’s scheme and his proven success, I believe Robell will be an everyday starter throughout the 2026 season.
Right guard:
Carter Sweazie, redshirt senior, 6’2”, 328 lbs
Another huge piece brought from JMU to UCLA comes in Sweazie. While Sweazie started all 14 games at left guard last season at JMU, I expect him to move to right guard with the retention of Brooks. Sweazie earned Third Team All-Sun Belt honors in 2025 and was imperative to the same line as Robell that broke school records and ranked in the top-25 in a plethora of offensive categories. The addition of Sweazie and Robell to the Bruin offensive front not only gives them experience and success in a position group that struggled in Westwood in 2025, but also continuity in a room that is almost entirely revamped outside of Yoon and Brooks.
Right tackle:
Hall Schmidt, redshirt senior, 6’7”, 308 lbs
Anchoring the opposite side of the offensive line is Hall Schmidt. Schmidt joins Westwood from Boise State. Not only does Schmidt bring an abundance of experience, having played three seasons of Mountain West football, he also experienced a myriad of success in 2024. Schmidt started 12 games at right tackle, bolstering the right side of an offensive line that ran for 3,365 rushing yards, the most in Boise State’s FBS history and in large part due to Ashton Jeanty, a Heisman Trophy finalist and the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL DraftIn 2024, Schmidt was part of an offense that ranked No. 5 nationally in scoring and No. 8 in the country in total offense. Apart from spearheading one of the most explosive ground attacks in the nation, Schmidt also allowed just one sack in 329 opportunities.
Comments are closed.