Inching closer to a new era for UCLA football in the Big Ten, Daily Bruin Sports will preview each of the Bruins’ position groups prior to the season’s official start. Assistant Sports editor Connor Dullinger continues the series with a dive into the linebackers.

Personnel

With little turnover, UCLA’s linebacker room remains one of the most stable in the program.

The contingent is headlined by the linebacker tandem of senior Oluwafemi Oladejo and redshirt senior Kain Medrano – a member of the 2024 Butkus Award Watch List, a recognition annually awarded to the nation’s top linebacker.

After transferring from California, Oladejo ranked third among the Bruins with 54 tackles during his first year in Westwood. He also added 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and ranked 19th in the nation with two fumble recoveries.

Medrano – a 2023 All-Pac-12 honorable mention and defensive stalwart for the Bruins – contributed 56 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks last season. The Pueblo, Colorado, local has notched at least 25 tackles in each of the last three seasons.

While he’s played just one game over the past two seasons due to injury, redshirt senior Ale Kaho may be the wildcard UCLA’s defense needs to raise the bar.

Kaho was one of 90 players chosen for the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list and could be the second Bruin defender in three years to win the distinction after defensive lineman Laiatu Latu won it in 2022.

The linebacker room is rounded out by redshirt senior duo JonJon Vaughns and Joseph Vaughn. Vaughns has played in 37 games since 2021 and recorded a career-high 53 tackles and two interceptions in 2022.

Vaughn – a Yale transfer – was a First-Team All-Ivy League selection and part of the All-New England team last season after recording six games with double-digit tackles and three forced fumbles on the year.

Predictions

The Bruins’ linebackers are poised to maintain – and even build upon – an upward trajectory. Darius Muasau, an NFL draftee, is the group’s sole loss from 2023, indicating its potential as UCLA’s most formidable defensive unit.

Last season, UCLA’s rushing defense ranked second in the nation after allowing just five rushing touchdowns and 80.8 rushing yards per game.

The defense was responsible for 43 sacks and a tying with Penn State to lead the nation with 87 tackles for loss in the 2023 season.

Pitted against powerful offenses like Penn State, Oregon and LSU, the group will have to draw on its seasoned experience to remain at the top of the country defensively.

In the wake of D’Anton Lynn’s departure to USC, UCLA’s new defensive coordinator, Ikaika Malloe, was specifically designated to be in charge of the inside linebackers.

Westwood is familiar territory for Malloe, who has served as the team’s defensive line coach, outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator prior to assuming defensive coordinator duties.

Veterans in the linebacker room and Malloe’s familiarity with the team’s defense hint at continued success against the run game.