This post was updated Aug. 3 at 9:40 p.m.

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”

John C. Maxwell’s famous quote perfectly encapsulates the last two seasons of UCLA football.

Coach DeShaun Foster brought a new era into Westwood last season – one filled with restoring old traditions and emphasizing the pillars of discipline, respect and enthusiasm – replacing former Bruin head honcho Chip Kelly, who spent six seasons at the helm.

But after a 5-7 campaign – the Bruins’ worst record since 2019 – the squad decided to embrace an unfamiliar pathway, one aimed toward prosperity.

UCLA football’s training camp has taken on a new rhythm shaped by both its location, operating out of Costa Mesa’s Jack R. Hammet Sports Complex, and the sweeping changes within the program.

The Bruins’ temporary setup – made necessary by resodding at Spaulding Field – mirrors the larger transition unfolding within the program.

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri is among nine new assistant coaches Foster hired in the offseason. A former Alabama staffer under Nick Saban and most recently Indiana’s co-offensive coordinator, Sunseri inherits an attacking unit that averaged just 18.4 points per game last season, ranking among the bottom three in the Big Ten.

But Sunseri steps into familiar territory: a new team, a new system and a first-year quarterback in transfer redshirt sophomore Nico Iamaleava.

“Every single year that I’ve had the (quarterback) room my own room, I’ve had a new quarterback, and I’ve had to train that guy every single year,” Sunseri said. “So this is nothing new for me.”

Iamaleava, who transferred from Tennessee after leading the program to a 10-3 season and its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, arrives as the presumptive starter and centerpiece of UCLA’s rebuild.

And with Iamaleava still learning the system, UCLA’s offense may lean on its ground game and veteran players to set the tone in 2025.

The Bruins’ backfield gained maturity this offseason with the return of redshirt senior Jalen Berger and the arrival of junior Jaivian Thomas from California. Berger – now fully healthy after an ankle injury limited him last season – has recovered and benefited from a full offseason in Westwood.

Thomas arrives from Cal after posting 736 rushing yards on 118 carries alongside eight rushing touchdowns through two seasons. The Oakland local added that the camp environment was intense, and converting that energy into on-field chemistry was important.

“The thing about this running back group is everybody’s versatile in our own ways,” Thomas said. “Everybody can be used in all different positions, … we’re going to be the heart of the offense.”

And Sunseri said that’s by design.

The new offensive coordinator emphasized physicality and depth as key tenets of the Bruins’ ground game, noting the importance of utilizing multiple backs not only to exploit matchups but also to keep players fresh into the fourth quarter.

“You don’t wear out the tires,” Sunseri said. “We want to be able to put our guys on the field, allow them to be able to play as fast as they can and as fresh as they can, while building depth.”

That tailback depth includes returning running backs redshirt senior Anthony Frias II, along with redshirt junior Anthony Woods – a transfer from Idaho who ranked second in the Big Sky in rushing in 2023 – and freshman Karson Cox, a four-star recruit out of Victorville, California.

Thomas added that the group’s range of skills and repertoire of tools gives the team flexibility, praising Woods’ physicality and versatility out of the backfield.

“Ant brings a lot of things,” Thomas said. “He’s not the biggest, obviously, but he’s very physical. … He brings things from special teams, from kick return, punt return, catching out the backfield, catching it in the slot, catching it outside and running the ball very well.”

Last season, UCLA’s offense averaged just 328.8 total yards per game – ranking 110th nationally – and failed to find consistency in both the run and pass game. Sunseri’s 2024 Indiana offense, by contrast, averaged 426.4 yards and over 41 points per game – ranking first in the Big Ten and second nationally.

While Sunseri did not offer specifics on his new offensive scheme, players described it as more balanced than last year’s system. Berger added that the running backs, offensive line and wide receivers have started to gel with Iamaleava in recent weeks, providing the offensive cohesion necessary for a high-functioning offensive arsenal.

“We got an elite quarterback, so that’s going to change the whole offense,” Berger said. “The whole offense is clicking.”

Though just days into camp, the coaching staff has emphasized the importance of communication, chemistry and accountability across the program. Sunseri, who recently welcomed his first child, said those values extend beyond football.

“These young men, they’re not just football players,” Sunseri said. “You got to surround them with love and care and really uplift them. Then, we can get them to be great football players, too.”