LOS ANGELES — Find the football. Hit the quarterback. Repeat.
Read the angle, hit the football and give it back to the defense.
Forcing turnovers and taking control of the football has led to the mantra of “Bruin Bullies,” the attitude and philosophy UCLA wants to embody when it starts the season against Cal on Sept. 5 in Berkeley.
Returning UCLA senior defensive back and Pasadena native Cole Martin (90 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, five pass breakups, two interceptions) elaborated.
“It’s the fundamentals that come with playing this game,” Martin said. “Those fundamentals apply on every snap. Everything you do on and off the field. You’ve got competitiveness. You’ve got to compete in everything you do. When you try to go out and compete and be the best version of yourself, it raises the bar of who you are off the field. Your relentlessness. The ability to keep on going and fighting. That’s the thing that separates us.”
Martin is one of the many weapons UCLA will attempt to utilize under first-year head coach Bob Chesney. Chesney’s James Madison team ranked as the nation’s fifth-best defense last season in yards allowed (266.6 per game) and rushing yards allowed (85.1 per game) and led the nation in turnover margin in 2024 (+1.54 per game with 29 takeaways).
Rodrick Pleasant, who had 41 tackles with eight pass breakups and one forced fumble last season, is among the defense’s returning players. Ball punching and smothering of the ball are being emphasized during training camp for a team that doesn’t have a depth chart.
The message from the new coaching staff: perform well in practice and play time will be earned.
“They’re preaching the ball,” Pleasant said. “Go after the ball and make a play on the ball anyway you can. Interceptions, punchouts and going after the ball. That’s where the switch has been for me and I’m looking to make plays.”
One of the newest additions for UCLA’s defense is Darold DeNgohe who played for Chesney at JMU in 2024. DeNgohe posted a career-high 28 tackles, including six for a loss and a sack, that season before he transferred to Rutgers.
“We make it an emphasis and make it into a competition and into spring ball,” DeNgohe said. “We have a whole list of guys who are leading each position in turnovers. Every day we have turnover drills and emphasize the ball – that’s part of our brand. Everything is about the ball. When someone makes a tackle, you have an opportunity to punch it out. Whatever it takes to match hands with the quarterback, tipped passes and there’s an emphasis on the whole defense overall.”
Sophomore linebacker Scott Taylor feels the anticipation as UCLA attempts to carve out an identity on defense.
“As we keep getting closer and closer, the excitement keeps growing and growing,” said Taylor, who had 12 tackles, forced a fumble and blocked a kick in 2025. “But with that is the intensity and everything we do. Practices get more intense and our walkthroughs are getting more intense. Everything we do has the hyper-focus that in a couple of weeks, the ball is going on the tee and we better be ready to go.”
UCLA defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler didn’t mention any names when asked about players whose stock has grown during training camp. Chesney has said this year’s team doesn’t have a depth chart. Without one, there’s been a heightened focus on daily production at practice.
“There wasn’t anyone in the background when we got here,” Hitschler said. “Everyone started on a fresh pillar. We give everyone an opportunity and that’s probably the thing that Coach (Chesney) does best is he gives everyone an opportunity. What you make of your reps is what gives you more reps. There’s a lot of good players here and you’re going to see a lot of players make plays.”
As the focus intensifies, so does the attention to detail in practice. The Bruins are attempting to avoid mistakes that resulted in a 3-9 season in 2025 that included the firing of former head coach DeShaun Foster after an 0-3 start.
The mixture of returning players plus the athletes Chesney brought with him from JMU are attempting to create a new history at UCLA, which hasn’t had a 10-win season since 2013 or won the Rose Bowl since 1985.
Fifth-year defensive lineman Tyson Ford looks to play a major role under Chesney. He’ll play against Cal, where he played last season, in the opener as the Bruins look to turn the program around.
That reset starts with becoming the “Bruin Bullies.”
“Everyone knows what the goal is,” Ford said. “It’s not really hard to bring guys along. Guys are bought in. Coach Ches has been emphasizing the brotherhood. We don’t have to bring anyone along. Everyone is right there.”
UCLA football coach Bob Chesney reflects on first preseason practice