UCLA Bruins Football: Key Transfer Portal Additions for 2025

In college football, the road to a conference championship often begins with moves made at the turn of the new year. The transfer portal has reshaped the game, and loyalty to programs is fading. Heading into 2025, UCLA has been active in the transfer portal, adding 20 commits — tied for second most in the Big Ten — and aims to return to bowl contention.

Notable Transfer Portal Additions for UCLA

The Bruins loaded up their 2025 roster with positions all across the board and had the 12th-best portal acquisitions according to On3.com. Nonetheless, UCLA will look for key contributions from these players recruited from the transfer portal in hopes of achieving their fourth winning season in five years.

Offensive Acquisitions

UCLA struggled offensively in 2024, ranking among the bottom four in yards and points per game in the Big Ten, promoting efforts to boost their offense for 2025.

Skill Group

To aid an elite offense, the skill positions must be performing at high volume. To tend to that recipe, head coach DeShaun Foster and the Bruins brought in quarterback Joey Aguilar (Appalachian State), running back Anthony Woods (Utah) and wide receivers Kaedin Robinson (Appalachian State) and Mikey Matthews (Cal).

Aguilar joined the college football scene late, but in his debut year he set single-season records at Appalachian State with 3,757 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, 13 200-yard games, 293 completions, and 460 attempts in 2023. The 6-foot-3-inch gun-slinger poses the ability to command a high-octane offense for the Bruins, but the lack of competition throughout his collegiate career could warrant concern.

Woods missed the 2024 season with injury for the Utes, but was Idaho’s lead back for two years prior. There, he rushed for over 2,000 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and posting eight 100-yard games. Despite not excelling in the pass game, his explosive nature out the backfield can help revive a subpar Bruins rushing attack.

Who better to pair with Aguilar than his top receiver at App State? Robinson, an elite deep threat, led App State with 53 catches and 840 yards in 2024 despite missing two games last season. Given his chemistry with Aguilar, he could finally break 1,000 yards and provide a much-needed downfield threat for UCLA.

Following in the footsteps of J. Michael Sturdivant, Matthews is the latest Golden Bear receiver to transfer to the Bruins. In what was a crowded receiver room, Matthews didn’t have a captivating sophomore year, only racking up 32 catches for 273 yards and one touchdown. The shifty wide receiver has excellent route running and speed to aid a new UCLA offense.

Offensive Line

An offense can’t function without a proper O-line, so the Bruins signed these offensive linemen to beef up their wall: Kaiden Arnold (Jacksonville State), Courtland Ford (Kentucky) and Eugene Brooks (Florida State).

Arnold could turn out to be the best out of the bunch. However, for the time being, the 6-foot-7, 315-pound tackle will be a project for UCLA. If he finds his footing early in spring training and throughout the offseason, Arnold can play a major role in forming a heavy unit up front.

Ford, a former rival of UCLA is a 6-foot-6, 327-pound tackle with experience on both sides of the line. The Kentucky transfer dealt with a hand issue all season long in 2024, limiting him to only two games, but he should compete for a role at UCLA in 2025.

Finally, Brooks will help the interior part of the line and the elite competition from the Big 12 will make the transfer to the Big Ten much smoother. Brooks is a 6-foot-3-inch lineman who has amazing feet, agility and strength that can help generate time in the pocket and create holes for his backs.

Defensive Acquisitions

UCLA added eight secondary players, two defensive linemen, and one linebacker to improve a defense ranked in the Big Ten’s bottom half in 2024.

Front Seven

The front seven was the highlight of the Bruins last season, and to mimic that performance, Isaiah Chisom (Oregon State) will command the middle of the field, while Ashton Sanders and Nico Davillier (Arkansas) will occupy the d-line.

Like the other transfer-ins, Chisom is an underclassman with a load of potential. The Santa Clarita product produced quality outings for the Beavers in 2024, totaling 75 tackles (30 solo, 45 assists) and one forced fumble. If he develops efficiently, he can step into the Carson Schwesinger role with his sheer tackling and playmaking ability.

Sanders and Davillier will look to immediately pick up where the Bruins left off last season against the run. Neither player particularly stood out last season, but both grasp talent that can be used in hopes of creating more QB pressures this year.

Secondary

UCLA made its splashes on the last line of defense, signing these eight defensive backs to help lock down the secondary: Robert Stafford (Miami), Scooter Jackson (Utah Tech), Cole Martin (Arizona State), Aaron Williams (Louisville), Benjamin Perry (Louisville), Key Lawrence (Ole Miss), Byron Threats (UCF) and Andre Jordan Jr. (Oregon State).

Most of these secondary additions are unproven, but they provide valuable depth to a valuable position and could break out in 2025. Jackson was the most impactful last season with 24 tackles, four passes defended and one interception, and could be the Bruins top corner.

UCLA Bruins Transfer Portal Recap

The Blue and Gold made their approach to the portal extremely clear: acquire young talent with potential to become major contributors. There is a sense of worry that the program wasn’t able to land any major players, but the additional depth will be crucial as injuries continue to be part of every football season.

The biggest concern was the lack of offensive output, but the Bruins made a push to acquire weapons across the field. But, it comes down to how well the offensive line can keep opponents out of their backfield. Though a lot of transactions have been made, UCLA should continue to remain aggressive in filling more spots.