3 Things We Learned About New UCLA Football Offense

Fall camp has been fully underway for a while, and we’re starting to learn more and more about what this UCLA team could look like next season.

As more reports come out, we’re hearing both good and bad things from Bruins camp. Some should get fans excited and amped up, while others may raise red flags.

Wayne Knight Looks Like a Star

Starting off with the good things going on in Bruins camp, James Madison transfer running back Wayne Knight is consistently putting up good performances across fall camp.

There is worthy speculation about whether Knight could translate to the Big Ten, and it seems like he is more than holding his own against this UCLA defense.

Now, you can take that information as exciting, or start to worry about how good this UCLA run defense is, but for now we’ll focus on the fact that Knight looks very promising. Especially when you consider that there is plenty of talent on that Bruins defensive line.

Nico Iamaleava Off To Slow Start

Switching gears a little bit, the more unfortunate news is that quarterback Nico Iamaleava has had a bit of a rough go getting up to speed in camp. He has consistently missed his receiver targets, both by over- and under- throwing them within their routes.

May 2, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) throws the ball during the spring game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Hopefully, this can be cleaned up by Week 1, as the Bruins can not afford to start this season slowly. Getting off to a fast start under Chesney this season is imperative for UCLA.

One factor that may very well help Iamaleava is the recent addition of former long-time NFL quarterback Derek Carr as a special advisor. Carr will come in and assist both Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy as they shape Iamaleava to hit the ground running by the beginning of the season.

WR Room Looks Strong

Nov 22, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Washington Huskies safety Rahshawn Clark (2) forces a fumble by UCLA Bruins wide receiver Mikey Matthews (7) during the first half the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Taking the positives from the negatives, Iamaleava missed throws to his open receivers, but it’s impressive that he had open receivers so often.

Aiden Mizell is the name to watch in this receiver room, as the race is beginning to heat up over who could be Iamaleava’s leading target. It’s becoming clear that Mizell and Iamaleava have formed a positive connection, and we can hope that chemistry continues.

As for the rest of the receiver room, it’s looking to be a strong group this season. James Madison transfer Landon Ellis, Brian Rowe Jr. from South Carolina, Leland Smith from San Jose State, and Semaj Morgan from Michigan will all be competing to grab targets this season.

You know it’s a good problem to have when you feel like there are too many mouths to feed in a positional group.

Overall, things are certainly heating up for the Bruins, and it will be interesting to continue monitoring these developments as they unfold over the remainder of the offseason.

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