LOS ANGELES — UCLA linebacker Sammy Omosigho has been in Westwood for less than six months but has already gained the admiration of players and coaches alike.
Named one of the team captains, Omosigho forced a fumble late and recorded a team-high 14 tackles in the season opener, helping UCLA overpower Cal, 45-24, on Saturday night in Berkeley.
Omosigho arrived after three years as a rotational player at Oklahoma, where he started only three games before transferring to UCLA. He never made more than eight tackles in a game before his explosive debut for the Bruins.
During the fourth quarter on Saturday, UCLA players went viral while dancing on the field, and the jubilation from coaches to players was clear after they outscored the Bears 21-0 in the fourth to secure a victory in head coach Bob Chesney’s debut.
“Players have to take it upon themselves to take that next stride forward,” Omosigho said. “Putting extra effort in. Us having a player-led team and the team naming a captain is just another testament to that where I have to be able to lead these guys to do what we have to do on and off the field. Highs, lows, the kickoff and us getting turnt. It’s not just the captains, it’s the entire team. They might not have the ‘C’ on their chest but we respect the team and we’re making sure the team isn’t having a valley or a peak. Making sure we are doing everything we need to do.”
Omosigho, part of a defense that forced three turnovers in the opener, wants to see more postgame team surfing and dance moves.
“It’s fun, that’s good team spirit right there,” Omosigho said. “Our entire sideline was getting turnt and we’ve got this game. It’s the kind of energy you need to bring forth to get results and this team is really bought in. I’m not seeing anyone on the sidelines, I’m seeing everyone on the field just jumping and having a blast. That’s really what you want to see with the team.”
New additions making contributions were a theme for UCLA (1-0) which debuted 38 players on Saturday.
UCLA defensive back and senior transfer Ta’Shawn James was named the co-Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after he had two interceptions and eight tackles in the win. James transferred to UCLA after three seasons at Iowa State and became the first Bruin since 2024 with two interceptions in a game.
UCLA, which hosts San Diego State (1-0) in its home opener on Saturday, controlled the line of scrimmage on offense against Cal. The Bruins averaged 8.7 yards per carry, led by running back Anthony Woods (career-high 118 rushing yards, two touchdowns). James Madison transfer Wayne Knight ran for three touchdowns and quarterback Nico Iamaleava scored an a 9-yard run.
Woods had the offensive highlight of the night with a 31-yard touchdown run, bouncing off senior offensive lineman Hall Schmidt before redirecting outside and sprinting his way to the end zone.
“You trust your training,” Woods said. “I let the block set up, I let him set up and whatever hole I see, I try to hit it.”
Chesney praised the physicality and sense of urgency the blockers showed, led by a pair of James Madison transfers – tight end Josh Phifer and offensive lineman Carter Sweazie.
“That’s the name of the game and as a head coach that’s what you’re looking for is what does the line of scrimmage feel like early,” Chesney said. “Ultimately, you’re just trying to see what push you have and can you do it? Can you not? Is it sustainable? Are they starting to wear down, are they not? Those are questions you got to ask as the game goes on and I thought Phifer, I thought Sweazie and I thought our receivers getting involved and getting involved at the point of attack during Nico’s run – you have to play that brand of football. We aren’t preparing to play a light game. We are preparing to play the most physical game imaginable on a day-to-day basis. I thought our guys did a good job of that.”
UCLA players and coaches know it wasn’t a complete victory. Cal junior Adam Mohammad rushed for 124 yards on 28 carries while quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele completed 24 of 41 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
While Omosigho wasn’t on the UCLA team that finished 3-9 last season, he still knows the recent history the program is trying to shed.
“We weren’t here last year, but we have to suffer through that pain,” Omosigho said. “We live with that revenge tour mindset the entire year. Of course we are 1-0 but still seeking out the 11 other opponents to make sure that we are on a track that’s always upward and dominate the next opponent we are going against.”