Ikaika Malloe was a first-time Power 4 defensive coordinator this time last year, less than a month away from losing his best player – former Bruin edge rusher Laiatu Latu – to the 2024 NFL Draft.

This year, Malloe is projected to lose another standout to the league – All-American linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who attracted attendants from 30 NFL teams to his Pro Day on Tuesday – while players such as defensive lineman Jay Toia, edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo and linebacker Kain Medrano are also forecasted to land in the NFL.

And after putting together the nation’s 39th best defense by yards allowed per game last season, UCLA football’s defensive shot caller said it’s just about finding the next guys up.

“We’re hoping within 15 practices, we can find the next of pass rushers, backers – hopefully we can get more physical up front,” Malloe said after Thursday’s spring practice at Spaulding Field. “These last couple days, what we’ve found is our defense is very energetic – so that’s a good thing.

Coach DeShaun Foster cleaned house after his 5-7 campaign in 2024. Malloe is one of only two assistant coaches – the other being tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel – to retain their respective post after last season.

And Malloe added that he never considered leaving Westwood.

“We (Malloe and his family) really wanted to finish what we promised to start here,” Malloe said. “We kind of turned anything and everything down that might have came our way. … Right now, my opportunity is right here – it really is.”

He continued that he wants to remain at UCLA for the players he’s recruited to the school, and to extinguish the standard that it’s okay for a coach to recruit high schoolers only to leave once the athletes make it to the college.

Linebackers redshirt senior JonJon Vaughns, redshirt freshman Isaiah Chisolm and redshirt sophomore Jalen Woods have stood out early in spring practice, Malloe said, adding that he expects redshirt senior Siale Taupaki, redshirt senior Gary Smith III and redshirt junior Keanu Williams to lead the offensive line, Vaughns to take charge of the linebackers and redshirt freshman Kanye Clark to command the defensive backs.

Clark and Williams both ended their seasons after the LSU game in 2024 because of injury.

Vaughns, who spent the past four springs playing for UCLA baseball, is at Spaulding Field in the offseason for the first time after exercising his baseball eligibility last year. Malloe said not having to juggle two sports has helped the veteran linebacker tremendously, as Vaughns won’t have to worry about jumping between the different demands of each sport.

After earning a COVID year for playing the 2020 season and redshirting the 2024 campaign – which Malloe said was just because of the linebacker talent already on the field – 2025 will be Vaughns’ sixth college football season.

Malloe said he prides himself on players like Clark, who went from a walk-on to a starter on scholarship.

And the coach spoke highly of his defensive line – the position he coached at UCLA before being promoted to defensive coordinator – Tuesday.

“He (Taupaki) was actually Jay’s sidekick and now he is kicking the side,” Malloe said. “Up front will be A.J. (redshirt freshman defensive lineman A.J. Fuimaono). … I know it’s a big statement, but I think he will be better than Jay.”

One of the Bruins’ 14 transfer portal additions to Malloe’s crew is redshirt junior Ben Perry. Perry spent four years at Louisville before transferring to UCLA for the 2025 season and Malloe said he can play both defensive back and linebacker – something Perry said he wants to take advantage of.

“I see myself fitting in everywhere,” Perry said. “I’ve always been a ‘tweener-type and here, they just said, ‘Whatever you can do, we’re going to put you there.’”

Perry added that he came to Westwood for Foster and Malloe – the latter of whom he’s “run through a brick wall” for. Through the early goings, Perry said the energy of UCLA’s defense and its player-led nature caught his eye, pointing to Vaughns as an example.

Malloe said each season is a game of cat and mouse – it’s important to keep what works while avoiding becoming too predictable.

“There is a foundation that we’ve set in place that, yes, will look the same,” Malloe said. “But there’s some things that we would like to change. … We want to make sure we come with some curveballs and changeups.”

Malloe said he knows he can’t be the one to win games on the field – he needs his players to be responsive and accountable, and all 11 players should know what one another is doing.

And while everyone seems to be eager for the 2025 season to kick off, Malloe said the first two weeks of spring are just about the fundamentals.

“Guys have been working out so hard in Winter that they want to prove and show that they’re ready to go,” Malloe said. “I just got to remind them that we don’t start the season till September.”