The transfer portal comes and goes – and for the Bruins, in 2025, the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster reopened the possibility of transfers for 30 days since Sunday.
An exodus of about 30 players after the 2024 season and into spring camp, where more former Bruins bid adieu to Westwood, along with the players who either graduated or turned professional, opened spots for 57 new players on the roster.
“College football’s changed,” Foster said a few days before UCLA’s 35-10 loss to New Mexico, which led to his firing. “It’s not the same game it was when I played, it’s not the same game that it was when I started coaching, and it’s evolving every day.”
Some were players who had highlight moments as Bruins, such as running back T.J. Harden’s 142-yard effort against USC at the end of the 2023 season or quarterback Justyn Martin’s effort at Penn State a year ago.
Others were little-known Bruins, such as placekicker David Dwellenbach, a Utah native who never saw game action at the Rose Bowl, or wide receiver Braden Pegan, who could have been due for a breakout year had he remained in blue and gold.
Many Bruins entered the portal and remained without a home for the 2025 season, like defensive back DJ Justice. Others retired, like tight end Sam Summa, now a Master of Business Administration candidate at Louisville.
Here’s a look at how those former Bruins are faring with their new teams:
Offense
QB Justyn Martin, Maryland: Martin, who would have likely competed for backup reps again after being second-string to Ethan Garbers in 2024, also ended up as the Terrapins’ backup after losing out to true freshman Malik Washington during fall camp. Despite the backup status, Martin played during Maryland’s season opener and suffered an injury to his left leg in the fourth quarter that has kept him out of action since.
QB Dermaricus Davis, Hawai’i: Davis, a redshirt freshman for the Rainbow Warriors after not appearing in a game for the Bruins a year ago, is listed as the primary backup quarterback on the Hawai’i depth chart. He appeared in his first two Division I games, running for one yard against Sam Houston State in Week 2 and completing his first pass of his career for 10 yards against Portland State last week.
QB Nick Billoups, Lane College: Billoups, listed as a redshirt senior at the private historically black college in Jackson, Tennessee, is the most recent Bruin to have found a home. He committed to the Dragons, who compete in Division II, on Aug. 25.
RB TJ Harden, SMU: Had Harden stayed at UCLA, he may have been the top running back on the depth chart. However, after a rocky 2024 with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, the senior tailback left for the Mustangs. Harden has tallied 253 rushing yards and five touchdowns across three games. Against Baylor in Week 2, the former Bruin rushed for three touchdowns in SMU’s 48-45 double-overtime loss to Baylor.
RB Leo Kemp, Bowling Green: Kemp, a junior for the Falcons, is a traditional fullback and has recorded one carry for one yard in 2025. Last year, Kemp was blanked on the stat sheet.
WR J.Michael Sturdivant, Florida: The redshirt senior after his solo season in Westwood has become an early target for DJ Lagway, despite Florida’s rocky start to the season. Sturdivant – who may have been a top wide receiver target for Nico Iamaleava should he have remained a Bruin – has seven receptions for 71 receiving yards and a touchdown through three games.
WR Braden Pegan, Utah State: Pegan, a junior who played at San Juan Hills High, is coming off the best game of his college career. Against Air Force on Saturday, Pegan tallied 147 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches. He played in nine games for the Bruins in 2023 before redshirting the 2024 season. Now, Pegan leads the Aggies with 208 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns through three games.
WR Logan Loya, Minnesota: After five years as a Bruin, Loya entered the transfer portal and stayed in the Big Ten with the Golden Gophers. Like he did at UCLA, Loya is taking punt return reps. As a receiver, he has three catches for 28 yards through three games.
OL Tavake Tuikolovatu, Kansas: Tuikolovatu is listed as a redshirt sophomore for the Jayhawks after playing in 12 games, with one start, for the Bruins last year. Kansas’s depth chart – compiled by its sports information staff – had Tuikolovatu splitting time at left guard, a similar role he would have probably played with UCLA in 2025.
OL Niki Prongos, Stanford: Prongos was probably UCLA’s biggest loss on the offensive line. The redshirt junior would have more than likely started at left tackle, much like he is for Stanford through three games – the last of which being the Cardinal’s first win of the season, 30-20 over Boston College.
OL Alani Makihele, UNLV: Makihele transferred from UNLV to UCLA – and then made the switch back to the Rebels and now-coach Dan Mullen. The senior Alaskan played in UCLA’s loss in Las Vegas, slotting in at right guard, where he has played in each game this season.
OL Marquise Thorpe-Taylor, Fresno State: After one season at UCLA, Thorpe-Taylor left Westwood for the Bulldogs. The redshirt freshman was seen as a longer-term offensive line prospect, a role that has continued at Fresno State as he has yet to play.
OL Walker Andersen, Colorado: At 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds, Andersen had the size to develop into an option at offensive line, but departed UCLA after one season. The redshirt freshman is not on the two-deep and has not appeared in a game.
Defense
DB Jaylin Davies, Oklahoma State: Davies was a starting defensive back for the Bruins last year and likely would have been again. However, so far into 2025, the redshirt senior has not appeared in a game for the Cowboys. When he has been on the field, he’s been in streetwear.
DB Clint Stephens, New Mexico: Stephens left the Bruins and returned to the Rose Bowl on Sunday and recorded a tackle in Foster’s last game as head coach. The junior is a backup for the Lobos, a role he would have likely played at UCLA.
DB Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins, North Carolina: Once a four-star flip as a prospect, Dunbar-Hawkins left UCLA after one season for Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels, where his brother is an assistant coach. The redshirt freshman made his debut against Charlotte in Week 2.
LB Isaiah Patterson, UNLV: The redshirt freshman had something to prove when he played against the Bruins in Week 2, collecting a career-high three tackles. The Washington native was primed for reps in Westwood – after playing sparingly a year ago – and is listed as a backup on the depth chart.
DL Collins Acheampong, Bowling Green: The 6-foot-7 Acheampong – a late basketball-to-football switch in high school – is on his third school after Miami and UCLA. The sophomore, who didn’t play a snap for the Bruins, is a backup edge rusher on Bowling Green’s depth chart and has played in all three games.
Special teams
K David Dellenbach, Ohio: Listed as a redshirt freshman, Dwellenbach kicked his first career field goal against Rutgers in the Bobcats’ season opener. He is splitting time at kicker for Ohio after not playing for the Bruins last year.
K Joseph Firebaugh, Sacramento State: Firebaugh, now a junior, has been splitting kickoff duty for the Hornets. He played in a handful of games for UCLA in 2022 – even converting a field goal against Colorado – but did not play in 2023 or 2024.
P Chase Barry, Oklahoma State: Barry is a junior for the Cowboys, where he is the backup punter – the same role he held on the Bruins last year. He was the primary holder for kicker Mateen Bhaghani last year.
P Brody Richter, Minnesota: The redshirt junior, who started for UCLA last year, has yet to punt, backing up the Golden Gophers’ lead punter at his third school in three years.
LS Trent Middleton, Michigan: The junior is not the starting long snapper for the Wolverines. Middleton did not play in two seasons at UCLA after signing from Orange Lutheran High.
