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UCLA football team figuring it out, one loud day at a time

April 5, 2026

LOS ANGELES — It was a picture perfect day in Westwood for the UCLA football team’s second spring practice.

Eighty-three degrees and not a cloud in the sky, the Bruins couldn’t have asked for a better day to hit the practice field Saturday afternoon.

The Bruins practiced in front of a crowd with more than 150 recruits, alumni, and media members in attendance for the full practice session at Spaulding Field.

UCLA coach Bob Chesney filled the air with excitement and intensity. Through the first two spring practices, it’s clear to see that Chesney has made it a priority to make practices fun but still productive.

“Our coach (Bob Chesney) is the best in the country when it comes to that stuff,” UCLA offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy said. “You can see it when we come out here, staff or players, you have to love what you’re doing. I think that’s the biggest thing. If we don’t like it, it’s going to be a drag.”

Breaking in the offense

The wide receiver group had a good day of practice, with Florida transfer Aidan Mizell looking like a serious difference-maker during 1-on-1 drills.

Mizell, a redshirt junior, is with his third program after signing with Ohio State out of high school before transferring to Florida for his redshirt sophomore year.

UCLA’s revamped wide receiver room features six transfers, including Mizell, and two freshmen, with three-star signee Markus Kier arriving in the summer.

Kennedy emphasized that the position room is still going through growing pains and has a long way to go before the Bruins’ season opener against Cal on Sept. 5.

“This is all new for everybody. Even though people have been together, it’s still new for everybody across the board – how we teach the routes, how we teach the reads within the quarterback … sure they might know each other and they might know their strengths and weaknesses, but then when you get on the football field, all of that is new,” Kennedy said.

Building a defensive unit

Arguably the top transfer portal addition for the Bruins in the offseason, defensive end Sahir West looked every part of his 6-foot-4, 270 pound frame.

One of the 10 players to follow Chesney from James Madison to UCLA, West should be a focal point of defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler’s inaugural defense.

For the Dukes last season, West accumulated 45 tackles, seven sacks and a forced fumble. He was the 2025 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-Sun Belt second team.

“He loves (it) here,” UCLA defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said. “Kid loves football and works his butt off. He’s got a lot of talent. He continues to get better and that’s the best part about coaching him … of course we’re fired up. I’m excited to see what he does in (the Big Ten) as he continues to get better and better.”

Hitschler and the defensive coaching staff were among the most vocal people on the field. They could be heard from inside Pauley Pavilion as they directed their players.

“That’s just coaching. It’s all we know” said Hitschler, grinning ear to ear. “Every great team I’ve been a part of, there’s an intensity. There’s an attitude, there’s a desire to get better and that intensity that shows up on the field. I think we’re just having fun together being a football team and growing and I think we’re in a really good spot for your year one and a few practices in.”

Although it’s only the second spring practice of the year, it wasn’t hard to pick up on the connection that UCLA’s coaches and players have already developed with each other. Hitschler credited the quality time everybody has spent with each other.

“Being around them, that’s all that it’s about,” Hitschler said. “Every lift, you got coaches in there doing lifts with the players, you got Coach Chesney out there running with them and lifting with them. The more you’re around them, the more of a relationship it is and it’s real.”

Orange County Register

News Details

UCLA football team figuring it out, one loud day at a time

Breaking in the offense

Building a defensive unit

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