A sparse crowd dotted the Rose Bowl’s stands while the Bruins’ new roster practiced on the gridiron Saturday afternoon.

It was UCLA football’s spring showcase, framed as a sneak peek into the 2025 season – one that will be reshaped following offseason exits to graduation, the transfer portal and the NFL.

However, the most high-profile member of the upcoming roster never took the field. Former Tennessee quarterback and recent UCLA signee Nico Iamaleava made his first public appearance with the program, standing on the sidelines with his brother, Madden Iamaleava – who also is expected to transfer to Westwood.

[Related: Fresh starts: Joey Aguilar leaves, Madden Iamaleava returns to quarterback line]

“He (Nico Iamaleava) commands attention,” said coach DeShaun Foster. “At 6 (foot) 6, he’s a huge guy. He’s not somebody that’s seeking that attention, but he kind of has a poise to him. It’s comforting.”

Saturday’s practice consisted of individual drills followed by reduced-contact seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 reps between the offense and defense.

With the Iamaleavas on the sidelines, redshirt freshman quarterback Luke Duncan took both first- and second-team reps Saturday – having emerged as the first option among the Bruins’ remaining quarterbacks.

“Luke had a really good practice today,” Foster said. “Each day you could tell he was getting better, getting more comfortable. There was a lot of outside noise, and he was still finding ways to focus on exactly what he needed to focus on – which was improving his play.”

Redshirt senior quarterback Nick Billoups and redshirt junior defensive lineman Jacob Busic, both of whom entered the transfer portal Tuesday, were also practicing with the squad at the Rose Bowl.

The spring transfer window has made such an occurrence more commonplace, as roster movements can continue throughout practice, altering team roles and forcing players to look for new opportunities.

“It’s where college football is at,” said redshirt freshman linebacker Isaiah Chisom. “Everybody has to do what’s best for them, whatever that looks like. We don’t know the real stories behind what’s making people make these types of decisions.”

While it will likely be Billoups’ and Busic’s final times playing for the Bruins, many of UCLA’s new faces – transfers and freshmen alike – experienced playing at the Rose Bowl in the blue and gold for the first time.

California transfer sophomore wide receiver Mikey Matthews and incoming freshman running back Karson Cox each scored multiple touchdowns in the situational reps. Both players will have to prove their minutes in their respective positional groups, which are filled with newcomers battling for roles.

The wide receiver room will feature three players – freshman Kwazi Gilmer, redshirt junior Titus Mokiao-Atimalala and sophomore Rico Flores Jr. – who started at least four games and averaged at least 28 receiving yards per game last season.

Transfer running backs sophomore Jaivian Thomas and junior Anthony Woods bring new competition to the position after Thomas led California with 626 rushing yards last season and Woods rushed for 1,131 yards and 16 touchdowns just under two years ago.

“In any system, … the offense in the beginning of the spring is going to be slower than the defense,” Chisom said. “Offenses are a little more technical and a little harder to get used to. But I mean, they’re (the offense) the best we’ve seen. I think today they had a really good practice.”

The offense’s growth has continued despite late movement via the portal. Since the spring window opened April 16, two quarterbacks, a running back and a tight end have joined the program, while four Bruin quarterbacks have either left or are in the process of leaving.

“Regardless of him (Nico Iamaleava) coming or Joey (former quarterback Joey Aguilar) leaving, as a team, we have done a really good job of honing in this spring and coming together as a team and working,” said redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Julian Armella.

The spring showcase was UCLA’s final practice of its spring schedule. The Bruins will not practice in the same format until fall camp, which will begin in the summer.

“They (the players) approached spring the right way,” Foster said. “Coming after the type of season that we had, these guys were eager to get out here and really try to find ways to better themselves as a team. I love the competition and how they competed, day in and day out.”