Tag: Deshaun Foster

DeShaun Foster, Jay Toia on hand to support Laiatu Latu at NFL Draft

DeShaun Foster and others on hand to see Laiatu Latu get drafted.

The UCLA Bruins football program saw Laiatu Latu hear his name called during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday. He went No. 15 overall to the Indianapolis Colts, ending a string of 14 straight offensive players to be selected.

And, even more impressive, is that a few Bruins coaches and players were there to support him. DeShaun Foster, defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, teammate Jay Toia, and athletic director Martin Jarmond were all there to support Latu.

DeShaun Foster is wasting no time making strong impressions in his first year as UCLA head coach, and them being there to see Latu get selected is quite something.

Latu then had his introductory press conference on Friday in Indianapolis and had plenty of things to say as his UCLA career comes to an end and he begins his NFL journey.

The Bruins contingent had to go back to LA to prepare for the Spring Game on April 27. 

DeShaun Foster supports UCLA Tennis in recent video

DeShaun Foster is making a good impression so far.

UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster has always been a Bruins fan. From his time playing tailback for them to eventually becoming their newest head coach, Foster always reps UCLA blue. In a recent post by UCLA Football on X, Foster supported another team of Bruins this week.

Ranked #23 in the nation, the UCLA men’s tennis team took down rival USC for the second time this season. With Foster in attendance, the Bruins picked up a win in Pac-12 play, beating the Trojans 4-2.

The culture surrounding the UCLA Bruins has shifted since Foster’s hiring. With an emphasis on developing relationships and showcasing all that UCLA has to be prideful of, attending the match is just another example of Foster’s impact on the athletics culture.

There is still lots of work to be done for Foster and the Bruins on and off the field. But as it stands, the Bruins currently have a new life in them as spring practices continue and they head into their first game in the BIG 10.

UCLA long snapper enters transfer portal after being cut

Ryan Wilkins is in the portal.

Since the hiring of DeShaun Foster, little has changed on the Bruins roster in 2024. That said, last week, a casualty of the coaching change came to light.

Former Elon University long snapper Ryan Wilkins, who announced his transfer commitment to UCLA in January, was told earlier this month that he no longer will be on the team. Transferring when Chip Kelly was still the head coach, Wilkins was the number one long snapper on the depth chart going into spring practice.

In his post on X, he announced that after a phone call with the coaching staff, he is no longer a member of the team.

An unfortunate byproduct of the coaching change, Wilkins entered the transfer portal again to play out his final season of eligibility.

With long snapper being a specialized position, Wilkins will find a home in the NCAA, but his story is a reminder that even as a starter at the college level, nothing is guaranteed.

UCLA Bruins host class of 2028 edge defender Marcus Fakatou

The Bruins are hosting players at Spring practice.

The UCLA Bruins are doing their work to prepare for the future. In this case, far into the future. Last weekend, the Bruins hosted a class of 2028 recruit at their spring practice, Marcus Fakatou.

The Orange Lutheran product from Fontana, CA, who could graduate after the DeShaun Foster era, depending on his success, already has college-level size. At 6’7″ and 260 pounds, Fakatou is a massive player off the edge and has a chance to continue growing.

Though planning this far ahead could be potentially a fruitless endeavor, hosting Fakatou cements the fact that the UCLA Bruins are playing the long game in Westwood.

The Bruins have already offered players from the 2026 recruiting class and have made a good impression, it seems, on Fakatou. With his size and potential to play at the college level, Fakatou could be a hot commodity for recruiters down the line.

So, it remains to be seen whether the Bruins doing their due diligence pays off, but for now, it shows that they are all in on the future.

Four-star linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale to meet with UCLA

UCLA is a hosting a 4-star LB.

The UCLA Bruins remain in the mix for a top-rated outside linebacker. After offering a scholarship to Bethel linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale back in March, the Bruins are one of his four official spring visit destinations. 

In an article from national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman for 247 Sports (subscription required), Rainey-Sale lists UCLA, Arizona State, Washington, and Florida State as his official visits this spring. 

On May 17th, the Bruins get the first crack at trying to seal the deal for Rainey-Sale. If their pitch can blow him away, the remaining teams on his list will have to chase UCLA in their offer. 

With the Bruins graduating the Murphy twins, Laiatu Latu and Darius Muasau, this season, they are looking for their future pass-rusher. Locking in Rainey-Sale could be the start of another wave of great UCLA defenders.

Though Rainey-Sale still has his senior season to play at Bethel, the Bruins are planning for the future, a welcome sign under new head coach DeShaun Foster.

Class of 2026 OT Colton Hogge to visit UCLA this week

The Bruins are hosting a talented Class of 2026 OT on a visit.

The UCLA Bruins have spent the offseason filling their recruiting board for 2025 along the offensive line. But the Bruins are set to host a player from the 2026 class this week.

Colton Hogge, an offensive tackle from Lincoln, California, will visit the UCLA facilities on April 5th. Hogge, who currently has no offers extended to him according to 247 Sports, makes the trip south to Westwood, where the Bruins will get an early crack at recruiting him. 

Hogge, who stands at 6′ 5″ and 260 lbs, is already the prototypical offensive tackle size at only 16 years old. With two more years of high school eligibility, Hogge has time to grow in size and as a player. 

Forecasting the future of the Bruins is not easy. With their move to the BIG 10 and their first season under DeShaun Foster set to kick off this spring, the Bruins could see surprising early success or take time to get up and running.

If the Bruins look like the latter, having prospects ready to come in for 2026 and make an impact could help move the program in the right direction when they are truly able to compete.

UCLA fan attendance declines most of Power-5 schools since 2016

Fan attendance has gone way down at UCLA.

Though the DeShaun Foster era at UCLA looks bright, the Bruins still have carry-over from their past regime.

In a graphic posted on X by sports analytics guru Tony Altimore, the UCLA Bruins have the sharpest decline in attendance at football games from any Power-5 school. Since 2016, the Bruins have seen a decrease of an average of 13,000 fans going into 2023.

In that span, the Bruins have gone 45-49 overall and 1-2 in bowl games. This occurred during the Jim Mora and Chip Kelly seasons. Though the Bruins have improved since the firing of Mora, they still fail to see notable improvements on the field and, in turn, in attendance.

But the Foster era feels different than Mora or Kelly’s. There is a new excitement and buzz surrounding the team. Players, coaches, and fans alike all appear to be hopeful and energized by the regime change.

With the Bruins now in the BIG 10, there is even more to look forward to as UCLA begins its tenure against some of college football’s finest programs.

Time will tell if it is reflected in attendance.

UCLA Bruins install Jordan brand logo on football practice field

The Jordan logo at UCLA looks pretty sweet.

The UCLA Bruins are repping the Jordan brand on the field: literally. After recently announcing their Jackie Robinson collection with Roots of Fight, the Bruins replaced their logo with the iconic Jordan emblem on their football practice field. 

In 2021, the Bruins agreed to a massive seven-year deal with Jordan worth $46.45 million to don the Nike-owned brand. Only a few years into their partnership, the Bruins display the logo proudly on their practice field. 

The new field logo comes at a good time, as new enthusiasm has swept the organization in light of the hiring of DeShaun Foster as head coach and Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator. 

Though the change to the Bruins’ facility is merely cosmetic, it displays their partnership with Jordan prominently.

As the Bruins begin to revamp their football program and inspire more buzz on campus, showing off their high-end sponsor should help drive apparel sales and draw fans’ attention to the Bruins.

Class of 2025 receiver meets with DeShaun Foster on UCLA visit

Class of 2025 WR met with DeShaun Foster during his recent visit.

Another potential UCLA receiver visited Westwood this week. 

Tamatoa Semaia, a wideout from Oak Hills, California, made the trip west to visit UCLA. The 6′ 0″ receiver met with head coach DeShaun Foster at the Bruins facility. The recent swell of receivers the Bruins have had in on visits is an indication that they are looking to restock the position for the future. With senior Kyle Ford entering the transfer portal this week, the Bruins are smartly looking to maintain depth on their roster for the future. 

Though Semaia will be graduating in 2025, making sure they have a plan for the position is necessary for building a team in the new era of transferring players. 

Semaia has not made a decision on where he will attend, nor has an offer been extended to him, but the Bruins are doing their diligence and keeping their stokes in recruiting fire.

The Bruins remain eager to add talent to their team, now making the jump to the BIG 10, and Foster looks to want to be a serious part of it. By showing up for the visits, he is making a concerted effort to be a part of the recruiting process for all potential future Bruins.

Spring football dates announced for UCLA Bruins

Spring dates announced!

As the UCLA Bruins basketball season comes to a close, the football season is just getting underway.

On Thursday, the UCLA Bruins football X page posted the dates for spring football. From April 2nd to May 2nd, the Bruins will have 14 dates open to the public to watch the Bruins practice and play.

Two dates, in particular, are starred for specific events. On April 19th, the Bruins hold their “Friday Night Lights” day, and on April 27th, the Bruins host their “Spring Showcase.”

The practices will be the first opportunity for fans to get a good look at the DeShaun Foster era in Westwood and some familiar and unfamiliar faces in the true blue uniforms.

There is a lot to like about the Bruins going into 2024. Though Chip Kelly’s tenure was unsuccessful, the Bruins have been making progress in the recruiting game. With players eager and excited to commit to UCLA, in part due to new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, the lead-up to the Bruins’ first season in the BIG 10 has been a pleasant surprise.

Will it amount to a change in the wins and losses collum? That remains to be seen. But for fans of the Bruins, April 2nd will be their first opportunity to see what changes have been made to the program in Westwood.