UCLA football breakdown: How the Bruins look at RB/WR/TE

LOS ANGELES — UCLA is facing as close to a total revamp among its skill positions as possible.

And new faces could go a long way for the Bruins and new coach Bob Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy should transfer portal recruitment work out how they’ve planned in Westwood.

Out of the door are longtime Bruins wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer (transferred to Nebraska) and tight end Hudson Habermehl (out of eligibility). And entering the equation is an All-American such as James Madison running back Wayne Knight and wide receivers such as Florida wideout Aidan Mizell, who is searching for a fresh start after middling seasons in Gainesville.

Chesney retained running backs coach AJ Steward – who ran the four-headed unit of Jaivian Thomas, Jalen Berger, Anthony Woods and Anthony Frias I – but brought in new coaches to steward tight ends (James Madison special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Drew Canan) and wide receivers coach (New Mexico wide receivers coach Colin Lockett).

UCLA is going to have to embrace its new identity – a primarily prototypical West Coast offense under Kennedy. But since the Bruins are more than six months away from breaking out the offensive operation on the road in Week 1 in Berkeley against Cal, UCLA could shift many routes with its playbook and new personnel.

Kennedy’s 2025 offense ranked at the top of the Sun Belt, landing at 11th in scoring with 37.1 points per game and 17th nationally in total yardage with 452.6 yards per game.

As the first transfer-portal window has wrapped – although exceptions are always possible – here’s a full breakdown of the movement within UCLA’s skill positions entering spring, the second in a six-part series examining the post-portal scholarship outlook for every part of the roster.

Running back

Returning: Karson Cox R-Fr; Jaivian Thomas Sr; Anthony Woods R-Sr; Isaiah Carlson R-Jr.

Arriving: Wayne Knight R-Sr (transfer, James Madison); Dylan Lee R-So (transfer, Iowa State); Jayden Fox Fr (Cherry Creek High, Englewood, CO).

Departing: Anthony Frias II (exhausted eligibility); Jalen Berger (exhausted eligibility).

Wide receiver

Returning: Jace Brown R-So; Karson Gordon R-So; Mikey Matthews Sr; Shane Rosenthal R-Fr; Jonah Smith R-Fr.

Arriving: Leland Smith Sr (transfer, San Jose State); Aidan Mizell R-Jr (transfer, Florida); Semaj Morgan Sr (transfer, Michigan); Brian Rowe Jr. (transfer, South Carolina); Landon Ellis Sr (transfer, James Madison).

Departing: Jadyn Marshall (transfer, undecided); Rico Flores Jr. (transfer, Virginia); Kwazi Gilmer (transfer, Nebraska); Jaedon Wilson R-Sr (transfer, undecided); Carter Shaw (transfer, undecided); Kyle Miller (exhausted eligibility); Ezavier Staples (transfer, undecided); Titus Mokiao Atimalala (exhausted eligibility).

Tight end

Returning: Noah Fox-Flores So; Grant Buckey R-Jr; Dylan Sims R-Fr; Peter Bario R-Jr.

Arriving: Josh Phifer R-Jr (transfer, James Madison); Stevie Amar R-Fr (transfer, Boston College); Brayden Loftin (transfer, Kansas State); Camden Jensen Fr (Heritage High, Littleton, CO).

Departing: Jack Pedersen (transfer, Washington State); Jake Renda (transfer, undecided); Hudson Habermehl (exhausted eligibility).

Can Wayne Knight kick on in the Big Ten?

Knight will be entering a running backs room with two tailbacks who have served as starters at previous stops in their careers: Thomas and Woods. But neither of his new Bruin teammates can claim All-American status.

A year ago, for James Madison, Knight tallied 1,373 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, capping off his journey with the Dukes on a 110-yard performance against Oregon in the College Football Playoff.

Standing at 5-foot-7, Knight may lack the traditional size for a power-four running back, but entering his final season of college football, the James Madison transfer has shown the ability to impact the game in multiple facets.

Who is Nico Iamaleava’s target No. 1?

Exit Gilmer; enter a host of new targets downfield. On the periphery, Ellis and Smith have the size and track record to start strongly with Iamaleava in his second-year return to the Bruins.

Look out for Mizell, however, because the Florida transfer is a former high school track star who has serious burst to look out for and could be truly harnessed in Los Angeles.