LOS ANGELES — After a 2025 college football season in which UCLA football finished 12th in the Big Ten in sacks allowed and rushing yards per game, the offensive line underwent a massive overhaul.
The group consists of four returning Bruins — Eugene Brooks, Sam Yoon, Jensen Somerville and Julian Armella. But James Madison transfers Riley Robell and Carter Sweazie bring continuity, teaching their peers coach Bob Chesney’s system.
UCLA’s offensive line is deep, and still sifting through positional battles and injuries to determine its starting five. The group will have paramount responsibility in a UCLA offense set to feature optionality and run-pass-option tendencies.
“They continue to get better every single day and we’re starting to find some depth in there as well,” Chesney said of the offensive line, speaking after Monday’s practice.
Robell and Sweazie, who each started at JMU last season, followed Chesney to UCLA. Robell began fall camp as the starting center, but a sprained MCL has kept him out over the last week. Chesney believes the injury is “really nothing at all,” and Robell should return “shortly.”
Sweazie, on the other hand, has found himself scrapping for a starting guard spot with Armella and Brooks. Robell and Sweazie’s lack of playing time, side-by-side, at fall camp shouldn’t be an issue. Their time together at JMU could offer Sweazie an upper hand.
“Not only have (Carter and Riley) played together in this same system, with this same language, but at the same time, the way that we’re going to communicate is going to be similar. To have a guy that played with you for a year adds a lot of confidence in their communication,” Chesney said.
With Robell missing practice, Yoon has stepped in at center. It’s healthy competition as Yoon has experience playing with quarterback Nico Iamaleava from last season, while Robell knows Chesney’s offense. Even though the playbook and the verbiage is second nature to him, building that connection with Iamaleava is crucial to him earning the starting spot.
The interior offensive line has impressed in fall camp as UCLA has broken a handful of runs through the A-gap.
On the outside of the offensive line — the tackle spots — one has had no doubts throughout fall camp, while the other is a question mark, but of health rather than talent.
Hall Schmidt started all 12 games at Boise State when Ashton Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. He redshirted in 2025 before transferring to UCLA.
“Hall’s solid. He’s just an overall solid guy that understands it,” Chesney said. “Does a great job playing this game. Plays with an edge.”
Left tackle hasn’t been as seamless as Jordan Davis, one of UCLA’s top transfers who was granted a sixth year of eligibility, has been held out, initially because of dehydration. He was dressed in pads on Monday, Chesney said, but Somerville continued to impress.
“He’s imposing,” Chesney said of Somerville. “He’s tough. He just continues to grow in his confidence.”
Somerville appeared mainly on special teams for UCLA last season, but could provide an important depth piece on the Bruins’ offensive line.
Davis and Robell will likely return before UCLA opens its season at Cal on Sept. 5, and the timelines for safety Cole Martin and wide receiver Aidan Mizell should be the same.
“He’s been out for a little bit here, just working through a muscle thing,” Chesney said of Martin. “You watch him move around, he’s really close right now.”
Mizell, who had been dealing with a hamstring injury, was out on the field, participating in punt return drills during the media viewing period Monday.
Monday marked UCLA’s first open practice since returning from its bonding week in Irvine, where Chesney said, “the empathy and the connection continued to grow in the program.” As game week inches closer, UCLA will hold its official media day on Wednesday.