UCLA Football: Bruins Badly Need Help At This Position After Latest Transfer

Alex Kirschenbaum | Apr 10, 2024

Oct 7, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Washington State Cougars wide receiver Kyle Williams is defended by edge rusher Choe Bryant-Strother. / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Following the departure of soon-to-be-ex UCLA edge rusher Choe Bryant-Strother, who is entering the NCAA transfer portal for the second time in the last two seasons (he was formerly with the Navy), the Bruins are in desperate need of help at his position, as Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times details.

Bryant-Strother had been the only lingering edge rostered who had actually logged time, at the position, in games for the team in previous seasons. He's notched 38 tackles across his four collegiate seasons, playing multiple positions. UCLA's three best edges, Laiatu Latu and Gabriel and Grayson Murphy, are all headed to the NFL draft. Upperclassmen edge rushers Carl Jones Jr. and Jake Heimlicher are no longer eligible to play.

Bolch reveals that, for now, defensive tackle Devin Aupiu and Jacob Busic, an AAC honorable mention transfer from the Navy, have played at the position with the first team on defense. Aupiu did play in two contests last year with the Bruins as a defensive tackle.

Freshman Grant Buckey and redshirt junior Joquarri Price have served as the two chief reserves behind Aupiu and Busic thus far in spring practices. None of the edge rushers had much success breaking through to the team's quarterbacks, Bolch notes.

University of Miami transfer Collins Acheampong, a Santa Margarita High School product, is still recuperating from an injury, but will be back in time for the regular season, Bolch notes, while adding that he could prove to be a huge help for the club at the position when he does return.