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UCLA football settling in after a week of spring practice

April 9, 2026

LOS ANGELES — Despite Bob Chesney having a defensive coaching background, one of the defining traits about the first-year UCLA football coach is his willingness to help out any position group at any given time.

From the defensive linemen to the punt returners, Chesney didn’t shy away from offering his input where he saw fit Thursday morning at Spaulding Field during the Bruins’ fourth spring practice of the year.

“His energy that he brings daily – it’s unique and special,” UCLA defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said. “It rubs off on the staff and then the staff brings it to the players. And together, it’s just a lot of fun out here and everyone that’s around feels it. Eventually that’s gonna lead to wins.”

Hitschler said that type of blue-collar mentality from Chesney dates to their days at the Division III level when both coaches worked at Salve Regina in 2011.

“He grinded and figured it out, whatever needed to be done to be successful. Especially when you’re at the Division III level and that’s a mentality that he’s brought here, which is like too small and you do whatever it takes to be successful,” Hitschler said.

Exactly a week into spring ball, the Bruins are starting to look increasingly comfortable on the practice field.

As offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy continues to learn and figure out his personnel, the Bruins’ running back room has offered a bit of stability.

Notably missing from the action was James Madison running back transfer Wayne Knight. He spent most of the day on the side working with the rehab staff.

In his stead, Javian Thomas and Anthony Woods saw extended run and looked more than solid.

Emerging leader on offense

Now in his second season with the program, Mikey Matthews has grown into a more vocal leadership role with the team. The senior wide receiver led the Bruins out of stretch lines and took a more vocal approach to practice.

Matthews, UCLA’s top returning receiver, has stepped up this offseason and taken on a bigger role in his position room after outgoing transfers rocked the group.

The 5-foot-9 wide receiver isn’t the biggest target on the field for quarterback Nico Iamaleava, but he knows how to get open. Matthews showcased his smooth route-running ability during the first team period of the day.

Later in practice, Matthews made another nice grab from Iamaleava after a dig route across the field and took it in for a touchdown.

Kennedy has appreciated Matthews’ efforts in trying to lead a new-look receiver room.

“I think when you have Mikey, who has been here previously and he’s executed at a high level,” Kennedy said. “Now you have someone like that where the younger guys can lean on and then also the new guys you’ve seen start to blend and some of the JMU guys blend with him. The more we can talk and be positive and have a positive attitude … it’s just gonna keep helping us grow.”

Defense wins the day

The Bruins’ defense stood tall for most of the sunny day in Westwood, making play after play against the offense’s first and second teams.

UCLA’s star transfer portal additions, former Oklahoma linebacker Samuel Omosigho and former JMU defensive lineman Sahir West, shined in team periods.

The defensive front seven as a whole stood out, not just for its size, but its ability to explode off the line in live situations.

“We’re in the Big Ten, so we better have some size,” Hitschler said with a laugh. “We got some big games coming up against some really good (offensive linemen). We got the size up front … the initial get-off has to be as violent as possible to overcome some of the size we’re gonna play against.”

Omosigho intercepted Iamaleava on one of the final plays of the day, giving the defense plenty of juice to close out practice.

“What a special pickup that was,” Hitschler said, referring to the former Sooner. “Great kid. Was in an unbelievable program there with a lot of NFL (linebackers) and made a lot of plays for them.”

Orange County Register

News Details

UCLA football settling in after a week of spring practice

Emerging leader on offense

Defense wins the day

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