Ikaika Malloe is a known quantity on the UCLA football coaching staff.
He’s helped transform UCLA’s linebackers, overseeing at one point or another inside linebackers, outside linebackers and defensive line since arriving at Westwood from his alma mater, Washington, in 2021.
Last season was Malloe’s first in charge of the entire defensive operation. With mixed results, UCLA finished middle of the pack in the nation in opposing points per game (68th with 25.2 points allowed). Rushing defense – and the linebackers corps – however, remained the bread and butter of UCLA’s defense. The Bruins ranked sixth in the country last year in giving up only 96.2 rushing yards a game.
Former walk-on Carson Schwesinger paired with Kain Medrano, Femi Oladejo and Ale Kaho to form the backbone of the defense. Defensive tackle Jay Toia provided force up front that could battle with any offensive line in the nation. Replacing talent like that – all five have made NFL rosters – is no easy task. The Bruins will play a brand-new starting 11.
Eleven of the Bruins’ top dozen tacklers are gone. No. 12 is Siale Taupaki, who turned into a potentially dynamic option in the blitz game in place of injured linemen Gary Smith III and Keanu Williams. Now, Smith and Williams are back and healthy, tapped by coach DeShaun Foster and Malloe to be impact players off the bat.
But among the rest of the defense, the secondary may feature just one returning player among the starters. Although the offense features many familiar faces, the defensive structure of UCLA will likely require a few weeks to iron out the kinks as it introduces a transfer-heavy starting lineup.
“I hope we can surprise and surpass what everybody expected us to do,” Malloe said a few weeks ago during the Costa Mesa fall camp. “We’re going to replace all 11, and I think our own expectations have a standard – and I expect to meet them.”
Here are the players likely to factor into the Bruins’ defensive game plan in 2025.
Defensive line
If you ask Malloe, Smith and Williams are undoubtedly the heart of UCLA’s defensive line.
When asked about potential playmakers in fall camp, the Bruins’ defensive coordinator couldn’t help but share his pleasure in watching the duo return to the field.
“They’ve been chomping at the bit in spring ball,” Malloe said of Smith and Williams, “and those guys have really flashed in what we thought the inside guys should look like.”
Foster said he’d be comfortable rushing just four with how the defensive line sets up currently. Depth-wise, the Bruins brought in Jalen Hargrove, a transfer from Rice, during fall camp.
Although Hargrove is unlikely to play much, he could slot in behind Taupaki (who totaled 23 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack a year ago), redshirt sophomore A.J. Fuimaono (who Malloe noted as a player who is “coming along” with technique), redshirt senior Devin Aupiu and Oklahoma transfer Ashton Sanders.
Sanders is someone Smith pointed to Tuesday as a teammate taking extra steps on the field. Sanders played 10 games for the Sooners in a backup defensive line and special teams role.
Provided the Bruins are healthy and replace Toia in the aggregate, their defensive line will be significantly improved compared to last year.
Among edge rushers, Michigan State transfer Anthony Jones and Michigan transfer Kechaun Bennett are new faces that could be sack threats.
Redshirt senior Jacob Busic, as well as freshmen Scott Taylor and JuJu Walls, could also appear in edge roles at some point this season.
Inside linebacker
JonJon Vaughns and Oregon State transfer Isaiah Chisom could be the leading tacklers on UCLA’s roster in 2025.
Since arriving in Westwood, Vaughns had been a two-sport athlete, known for his power-hitting prowess on the baseball team. Now, in his redshirt senior season, Vaughns has gone all in on the gridiron, dropping the baseball diamond for a full spring and fall of practices. Chisom was the second-leading tackler on the Beavers a year ago with 75 tackles and five tackles for loss.
It appears to be a sure bet to slot the linebacker duo in for most scheming scenarios, regardless of whether Malloe decides to play an extra linebacker or a nickel on the field.
“I definitely feel like anybody in our room could play at any time,” Chisom said a few weeks ago in Costa Mesa. “And I think [linebackers and special teams] coach [Scott] White does a great job forcing all of us to play together during practice.”
Jalen Woods is a player Chisom pointed to as someone helping him get adjusted to UCLA. After playing behind Medrano and Schwesinger last year, Woods, a redshirt junior, is primed for more playing time.
Redshirt freshman Donavyn Pellot has also received some buzz from the coaching staff this fall, while Ben Perry, a redshirt senior transfer from Louisville, appeared throughout the spring and fall in situational plays.
Secondary
UCLA brought in passing game and secondary coach Demetrice Martin ahead of the 2025 season — and he is hardly the only new name setting up at defensive back and safety.
Redshirt junior Croix Stewart may be the only name from last year’s Bruins to see regular playing time as one of two likely starting safeties next to Ole Miss transfer Key Lawrence.
Lawrence, who redshirted in 2024, was a key player with Oklahoma before playing for former USC coach Lane Kiffin and has brought energy since his arrival.
“Key Lawrence is doing a great job,” Malloe said. “His leadership skills are stepping up, and you can see carry over to the field as well as off the field in the meeting rooms.”
Scooter Jackson is another transfer likely to see playing time at safety – after filling in for Lawrence while he was held out for a few fall practices – and has played sporadically with the first team during walk-throughs.
Among the cornerbacks, Oregon State transfer Andre Jordan Jr., Miami transfer Robert Stafford III, Central Florida transfer Byron Threats, Arizona State transfer Cole Martin (the son of Demetrice) and Oregon transfer Rodrick Pleasant will all play during the 2025 season – but who will grasp starting roles is unclear before Saturday night’s season opener against Utah at the Rose Bowl.
Pleasant has elite speed (holding a 99 speed rating in the latest edition of EA Sports College Football) that could see him join the UCLA track and field team, while redshirt freshman Kanye Clark is returning from injury after turning heads early last season.
Specialists
Kicker Mateen Bhaghani admitted during fall camp that there was a chip on his shoulder after not being named an All-Big Ten selection a year ago.
The junior was 20 of 24 on field goals and perfect on extra points last year – leading to a preseason Lou Groza Award watch list selection. Bhaghani has been inconsistent from long range during the fall, and it could be a trend to watch – missing wide right – should it continue into the season.
“I’m always shooting for, obviously, perfection,” Bhaghani said a few weeks ago.
Both of UCLA’s punters, freshman Lennox Miller and Tulane transfer Will Karoll, happen to be Australian, but it appears the veteran Aussie will start.
Karoll averaged 42.8 yards per punt last year, with 11 punts going for more than 50 yards. Redshirt junior long snapper Salem Abdul-Wahab returns as the starter.
Saturday’s practice at the Rose Bowl revealed Cole Martin and redshirt junior Jadyn Marshall as the probable punt and kick return specialists, respectively.
