While spring practice is in full swing and UCLA football’s future seems to be taking center stage on social media, a group of former Bruins are preparing to begin their journeys at the next level. The 2025 NFL Draft will kick off Thursday and conclude Saturday, with six UCLA alumni waiting to potentially hear their names called in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Though the Bruins may not have a surefire first-rounder like Laiatu Latu this time around, plenty of intrigue surrounds the six draft prospects who declared after the 2024 season. Sports editor Ira Gorawara and staff writer Noah Massey forecast where each player could be headed next.

Carson Schwesinger, linebacker

Carson Schwesinger arrived at UCLA as a walk-on.

Four years later, he’s walking onto the professional gridiron as one of the top linebacker prospects in the country.

The 225-pound inside linebacker took the less traditional route to national recognition – commencing his career in Westwood on the sidelines as a redshirt, then cutting his teeth on special teams the following year.

But Schwesinger – whose explosive, fluid and instinctive play style makes him a prototypical sideline-to-sideline linebacker – steadily climbed the Bruins’ depth chart, wearing the team’s captain patch his senior year while anchoring the defense with his disrupting presence.

Schwesinger’s 2024 campaign – capped off by AP First Team All-American honors and a Butkus Award finalist nod – was one of the most prolific by any linebacker in the country. He paced the Big Ten with 136 total tackles and 11.3 tackles per game, leading all Power Four defenders during the regular season. The total also marked UCLA’s best single-season output since Eric Kendricks’s 2014 showing, which launched his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings.

On tape, Schwesinger proves to be a complete linebacker – patient with his hands, quick downhill and reliable in zone coverage. While not the flashiest name on draft boards, his high IQ and nonstop motor turned heads at the Combine, where he led all linebackers in production and earned a 39.5-inch vertical, the second best among linebackers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, thin at linebacker with Lavonte David nearing the end of his storied career, could find immediate value in Schwesinger. He may not be the loudest pick, but as a special teams contributor and rotational linebacker, Schwesinger may be one of the smartest.

Gorawara’s pick: Second round, No. 53 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Oluwafemi Oladejo, linebacker

Oladejo will be drafted in Green Bay as an edge rusher, though he only began playing the position midway through the 2024 season.

Throughout his first two seasons at California and his following 15 games with UCLA, Oladejo played inside linebacker, though he was oversized for the position.

At 250 pounds, Oladejo weighs over 20 pounds more than Bruin inside linebackers Kain Medrano and Schwesinger – both of whom will also look to hear their names called this weekend.

With his size and potential upside as an edge, Oladejo will likely remain that role at the next level, though his defensive versatility adds extra value. While Oladejo – who accumulated 4.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss last season – lacks the premier statistical accolades collected by other prospects, his potential and ability as a run-stopper places him among the best edge rushers of this year’s draft.

However, Oladejo’s inexperience as a true edge rusher will likely limit his draft upside and relegate him to day two of the draft.

If the Washington Commanders pass on an edge rusher in the first round, the departure of leading pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. could make Oladejo a strong candidate for the team’s second-round pick.

Massey’s pick: Second round, No. 61 (Washington Commanders)

Kain Medrano, linebacker

Built more for versatility than brute force, Kain Medrano breaks the mold of a traditional downhill linebacker – precisely what makes him a modern NFL asset.

Medrano put up elite numbers at the NFL Combine, boasting a 4.46-second 40-yard dash – the fastest of any linebacker – along with a 38-inch vertical and a 10-foot-5 broad jump. The metrics confirmed his raw athleticism and explosive traits that scouts saw in Westwood.

But even before the Combine, Medrano was pegged as a fluid, rangy defender with upside in today’s space-heavy NFL.

Medrano’s 2024 resume – 72 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three forced fumbles – may not stack up to colleague Schwesinger. But Medrano excels in coverage, reading screens, tracking tight ends and roaming the field.

What he lacks in strength and block-shedding, Medrano compensates for with burst, length and awareness. His lean frame and inconsistent tackling may push him into day three, but the potential is there for far more.

That blend of athleticism and instincts makes Medrano an intriguing match for the Indianapolis Colts – which struggled to contain tight ends and screens last season – and a project worth betting on. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo could plug him into special teams early and mold him into a dynamic sub-package defender.

Gorawara’s pick: Fifth round, No. 151 (Indianapolis Colts)

Jay Toia, defensive tackle

While his stats don’t fully reflect his impact, Toia was a vital part of a UCLA defensive unit that finished sixth in the nation in rushing defense in 2024.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 325 pounds, the senior lineman constantly clogged up rushing lanes and created space for his teammates to make plays. Despite recording just 25 tackles and two tackles for loss, his impact was rewarded by his distinction as an All-Big Ten honorable mention, one of only three Bruins to receive recognition from the conference last season.

Toia began playing football just eight years ago – and yet played 50 games for the Bruins. But with relatively less experience compared to his counterparts, Toia has some gaps in his skill set – particularly pass rushing – that need to be developed in the professional ranks for him to become a consistent contributor on any team.

The New Orleans Saints already have two experienced defensive tackles for Toia to learn behind and more pressing needs to address earlier in the draft, making the Big Easy a perfect fit for Toia to develop and become a solid NFL player.

Massey’s pick: Sixth round, No. 184 (New Orleans Saints)

Moliki Matavao, tight end

Nothing was overly gaudy about Moliki Matavao’s numbers in college.

But the flashes – the contested grabs, the physicality after the catch and the red zone presence – were enough to make scouts take notice.

A former four-star recruit and Oregon transfer, Matavao finished 2024 with 41 catches and 506 receiving yards – both highs among the Bruins.

His 6-foot-6 build and 263-pound frame offers an archetypal physique and a massive catch radius, allowing Matavao to shield defenders and haul in tight throws. Though built like a traditional tight end, he still moves well in space and runs crisp routes – especially on short stick-and-outs – where he can win with timing and leverage.

At his best against zone coverage, Matavao can settle into open windows and give his quarterback – which with the Los Angeles Rams could be veteran Matthew Stafford – a reliable target underneath.

Matavao remains a work in progress as a blocker, with his pad level and hand placement needing refinement to hold up against NFL edge defenders. But his effort and willingness to engage give him a solid foundation as a functional in-line option with the potential for more.

With limited depth behind Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, Matavao offers an immediate rotational option and a promising trajectory. Coach Sean McVay’s offense has long relied on tight ends who can flex out wide, chip block and contribute in the red zone – all traits Matavao has demonstrated.

Gorawara’s pick: Sixth round, No. 202 (Los Angeles Rams)

Devin Kirkwood, cornerback

Devin Kirkwood made just four starts in 2024 and had just three interceptions spread out over his three years in Westwood. But his size and length could make him an intriguing undrafted free agent target for NFL teams looking to add developmental depth.

Longer and heavier than prototypical cornerbacks – weighing 205 pounds at 6-foot-3 – Kirkwood has a unique build that could attract suitors to bet on his potential upside.

The quarterback ratings of opposing signal-callers when the senior was targeted declined in each season of his UCLA career, indicating steady improvement and suggesting that he could be a worthwhile development project for any team willing to invest in his growth.

Even still, Kirkwood’s lack of production and otherwise average physical tools will likely dissuade a team from utilizing draft capital on him.

The San Francisco 49ers’ secondary room is almost entirely composed of players six feet or shorter, making Kirkwood an intriguing option to add size and offer a change of pace from the rest of their personnel.

Massey’s pick: Undrafted free agent (San Francisco 49ers)