The UCLA Bruins will look to improve upon its bottom-feeding Big Ten rushing attack from last season, with running back Wayne Knight leading the way for the football program.
As a unit, the Bruins managed just 1,676 yards (139.7 per game) and eight rushing touchdowns in 2025, with quarterback Nico Iamaleava leading the team in attempts, yards, and scores. Though having a dual-threat quarterback is a luxury, not having a running back eclipse 400 yards won’t establish an effective ground game.
Add the nation’s seventh-ranked rusher, James Madison transfer Wayne Knight, to the equation and suddenly Iamaleava’s legs won’t be the only pair that defenses have to hone in on.
UCLA Football: Who is Wayne Knight?
Wayne Knight was an unrated running back out of Smyrna High School who chose to attend James Madison over the dozen Division I football offers he received.
Knight broke out onto the scene in his senior year, posting 1,406 rushing yards, 738 receiving yards and 36 total touchdowns. The Delaware native was also a three-time all-state and all-conference honoree during his time in high school.
Though not the biggest in stature, Knight’s low center of gravity combined with his breakout speed allows him to take runs the distance, leaving defenders out of frame.
Knight’s freshman and sophomore campaigns at JMU didn’t offer much, as he only saw 15 total touches. He emerged as a rotational piece in 2024 before his stellar 2025 year. Last season, the JMU transfer back racked 1,373 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in addition to his near 400-yard receiving season.
Wayne Knight went straight beast mode for JMU Football ran over the entire Troy defense! pic.twitter.com/l8cyYacRH8
— The cfb lliason (@realfbllliason) December 6, 2025
His efforts earned him Second Team All-American, First Team All-Sun Belt and he received a nod as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award.
Why UCLA?
Knight’s arrival at Westwood didn’t come unexpectedly, as he ultimately followed his former JMU head coach Bob Chesney to Los Angeles.
“Just being able to grow that relationship [with Chesney] over the past few years has been unbelievable,” Knight told David Woods from Bruin Report Online. “Transitioning into [UCLA], I know exactly what to expect. I know exactly what I’m going to get out of [Chesney], and he knows exactly what he’s going to get out of me.”
Knight and Chesney had a remarkable 2025 season, snagging JMU the No. 12 seed in the CFP and claiming the program’s first postseason appearance.
Furthermore, Knight’s first visit with the Bruins also marked his first time touching down in California, mentioning it as “the place to be”. The combination of warm weather and a system that he’s accustomed to made the Blue and Gold the perfect match for the incoming transfer.
With the buzz and anticipation building around UCLA’s 2026 football season, the Rose Bowl could very well be the place to be this fall.
Knight will look to replicate his RB1 production from the Sun Belt conference to the Big Ten. However, as he noted, “these [Big Ten] guys are a little bit bigger, faster and smarter, so [I] have to play at [my] ultimate peak.”
It’ll be an increased level of competition for Knight, but the experienced back knows what’s ahead of him in this grueling conference.
Expectations for Knight in 2026
The tape on Knight is out there, and his abilities are undeniable. However, he’s stepping into a positional group that could be considered UCLA’s most stacked room.
With seniors such as Jaivian Thomas and Anthony Woods — who’ve had quality seasons in their past — it’ll likely be a force by committee for the Bruins’ rushing attack.
The starting job won’t be a handout, but if Knight beats out the competition, consecutive 1,000-yard seasons could be in play. His output isn’t reliant on the quantity of touches he receives. He’s a quality back who’s averaged north of six yards per carry in his career.
Knight will be looking to be the Blue and Gold’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2022.
Although the depth in the position limits him from a full workload, he’ll remain a reliable option for a bulk of the carries. It’s Knight’s job to lose, and if the Bruins can remain competitive in games, he will see extended touches.
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Eric Hayrapetian
Eric is a lifelong Angeleno and a sports journalist who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. He joined The League Winners in January of 2025, and is the lead beat writer for the UCLA Bruins. Follow Eric on X (formerly known as Twitter) @EricHayrapetian.