It’s a preconceived notion that blue-chip recruits and star-studded transfers are going to be a team’s biggest contributors.

But in a former walk-on, the Bruins have found their superhero.

“I call him Captain America,” said redshirt senior defensive back Bryan Addison after Saturday’s game against Rutgers. “He kind of does everything for our team. He’s just a true embodiment of a Bruin.”

In his first year as a starter, UCLA football linebacker Carson Schwesinger has taken the Big Ten by storm. The redshirt junior leads the conference in solo tackles with 45 – 10 more than second place – and is second in total tackles with 72.

“We see it every day,” said coach DeShaun Foster. “The way that he plays this game and the way that he approaches it, it’s all in his training. … He’s truly a captain on this team.”

Besides leading the team in tackles, Schwesinger also paces the Bruins with 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and is tied for the team lead with one forced fumble.

Plus Saturday at SHI Stadium, Schwesinger recorded his fifth straight game with double-digit tackles – the first Bruin to accomplish the feat since former linebacker Eric Kendricks a decade ago.

“Carson’s a beast. We got some great players in the back end,” said redshirt senior quarterback Ethan Garbers. “It’s really good to see them get out there and make some plays, get some stops for us.”

The Moorpark, California, local is by no means unaccustomed to the gridiron, though. As a reserve linebacker, Schwesinger played in all 26 of UCLA’s games between his redshirt freshman and sophomore campaigns before being named a team captain ahead of the 2024 season.

Schwesinger, however, credits his teammates for his recent upswing in production.

“We call them havoc plays when we are all working as one unit, and I just happened to reap the benefits in this case,” Schwesinger said after a 13-tackle, 4.5 tackle-for-loss performance against Minnesota on Oct. 12.

Behind Schwesinger, UCLA ranks third in the Big Ten with 273 solo tackles, trailing only Purdue and Northwestern.

In the wake of the Bruins’ defensive overhaul this past offseason – highlighted by the departures of former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn and NFL first-round pick defensive lineman Laiatu Latu – Schwesinger said he attributes his ability to fill the void on the field to the man on the sidelines.

“Coach Malloe (defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe) gives everything for us so we want to give everything for him,” Schwesinger said. “Every time we step on the field for the brothers, for our coaches, we want to be able to make plays and get a win.”

With the likes of linebackers senior Oluwafemi Oladejo, redshirt senior Kain Medrano and senior defensive lineman Jay Toia, UCLA has put together the fifth-best rushing defense in the conference.

And while it takes all 11 players on defense, there’s little doubt over Schwesinger’s importance.

“He’s the coolest person you’ll meet,” Addison said. “He’s super down to earth. He’s one of those type of people who will talk to you about things outside of football. But when he gets on that field, he’s a monster.”