This spring may seem all too reminiscent of the last.

A new offensive coordinator is trying to install his system.

The starting quarterback is wearing No. 4.

And the “Fos Era” is relatively young in Westwood.

But after all the excitement of last year’s spring culminated in a sub-.500 campaign, UCLA football coach DeShaun Foster said there is something different this time around – him.

“Last season, it was my first spring going through, but this year I’m in familiar territory,” Foster said Monday morning ahead of the Bruins’ seventh spring practice at Spaulding Field. “It might not be some familiar faces on both sides … coaching staff or players, but I feel like I’m in a place that I’ve done this before.”

Foster added that the most important thing he’s learned from the past year is to keep his coaches and players vertically aligned – ensuring the team is unified in message, mission and direction.

A familiar face – and maybe an even more familiar name – still in Westwood is assistant head coach and tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel, the only coach besides defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe to retain his position under Foster after the 2024 season.

“At least one Neuheisel will have to be on staff at all times here,” Neuheisel said, alluding to his father, Rick Neuheisel, who was the Bruins’ head coach from 2008 to 2011 after previously playing quarterback in Westwood from 1981 to 1983. “We (Jerry Neuheisel and Foster) both share a vision of where this place can be and where we’re going. And I think we got the right people in the right car now.”

Just like his father, Jerry Neuheisel attended UCLA as a signal-caller before becoming a coach at his alma mater. After serving as the Bruins’ wide receiver coach from 2021 to 2023, Neuheisel became the tight ends coach in 2024 before adding assistant head coach to his nameplate in December.

While the coach will be without arguably his greatest weapon from last season – Moliki Matavao, the Bruins’ 2024 receiving yards leader who declared for the 2025 NFL Draft – there’s no void of talent in his room.

Redshirt sophomore tight end Jack Pedersen played in all 12 games last season, recording his first collegiate touchdown against LSU, and could be in the running to start Aug. 30 against Utah.

“Looking back from last spring, I think my route running has really increased,” Pedersen said. “My leadership as well.”

Comparing last year’s offense under former associate head coach and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to this year’s under newly minted offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri, Pedersen said the latter uses a different terminology with shorter play calls.

“Coach Sunseri has been a great coach and coming in here and getting the knowledge that we need to succeed on the field available to us,” Pedersen said. “You’re not really thinking too much, and you’re just going to play.”

Additionally, Neuheisel said redshirt senior tight end Hudson Habermehl, who tore his ACL during spring practice last year, will be fully healthy by the fall. Pedersen added that he and his fellow tight ends have taken Habermehl to his physical therapy appointments.

The Bruins also roster freshmen tight ends Noah Flores and Dylan Sims, who Pedersen said have been able to pick up collegiate football quickly.

With former Bruin Ethan Garbers having expended his NCAA eligibility, senior and Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar is donning No. 4 under center.

Aguilar and the rest of the UCLA offense ran plays without pads and an opposing defense Monday, allowing quarterbacks to progress downfield – rehearsing plays and a hurry-up red zone offense without much resistance.

“We put a lot on him (Aguilar),” Neuheisel said. “He’s doing a really good job – to come in here, learn new language, to be able to do all the reads, do all the protection things we’re asking. … I hope he loves throwing the ball to tight ends.”

And though there may be a new man running the offense – and a new man executing it – Foster said one thing is meant to stay the same as long as he’s at the helm.

His pillars.

“You got to stay with your pillars,” Foster said. “It’s going to be discipline, respect and enthusiasm no matter what.”