This post was updated Aug. 28 at 7:35 p.m.

As UCLA football gears up for its second year under coach DeShaun Foster and second season in the Big Ten, Daily Bruin Sports will preview the personnel of each of the Bruins’ position groups and predict their 2025 outlook prior to the season’s official start. Assistant Sports editor Jacob Nguyen continues the series with a dive into the squad’s linebackers.

Personnel

As proud as the Bruins may be to produce NFL-ready prospects, they are likely mourning the loss of talent from the front seven.

Of the five former UCLA football players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, three made up last season’s primary linebacker trio, including 2024 Big Ten tackles leader Carson Schwesinger.

Simply put, there’s a lot to make up for.

The rebuilding effort will be led by transfer and redshirt senior Ben Perry, who spent his first four seasons at Louisville and has been a consistent starter for the last three.

The Chicago local saw his most productive season in 2023 when he recorded 56 total tackles, four pass deflections and a sack. He followed that up with 29 tackles, another sack and a forced fumble the next year.

Although Perry was never a team-leading tackler at Louisville, he’s poised to benefit from the opportunities provided by a UCLA roster that saw so many departures from the linebacker room. The former Cardinal will have the opportunity to demonstrate his strong side skills in a rush defense that gave up the third fewest ground yards in the nation.

Defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe will also look to last year’s reserves to make up for the losses of Schwesinger, Oluwafemi Oladejo and Kain Medrano to the NFL.

Redshirt senior JonJon Vaughns is projected to man the middle. Although he only played in the first four matches of 2024, he saw double-digit appearances across the previous three seasons. The Pasadena, California, local had his best season back in 2022, when he delivered 53 total tackles and seven pass deflections.

Vaughns will be joined by his former high school teammate and redshirt junior Jalen Woods, who played in every game last season. Despite this, Woods didn’t play consistent snaps, recording only 22 tackles.

Incoming transfer sophomore Isaiah Chisom could shake up the rotation, whether it be fighting for starting reps or subbing in for mid-matchup versatility. Chisom had 75 tackles last season with Oregon State, and he showcased his coverage ability across the field, assisting on 45 of those tackles.

No matter who starts the season-opener Aug. 30, expectations should be high for a Bruin squad looking to replicate its relentlessness on the ground.

Head coach DeShaun Foster has been active in the transfer portal this past summer and has made strides to replace the talent that has since gone professional.

But the Bruins may have to weather a few rough waves to set the ship sailing smoothly again.

Predictions

The linebacker room was arguably UCLA’s strongest last year, and replenishing lost talent isn’t an easy task.

Nonetheless, the Bruins possess a coaching staff that can bring the best out of its players.

UCLA’s opponents converted just 38.5% of the time on fourth downs, and the Bruins only allowed 400-plus yards in four matches under Malloe last season. Having coached a history of strong pass-rushers – including Laiatu Latu, the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft – Malloe looks to elevate this new-look linebacker core.

With players like Perry and Vaughns finding increased opportunities, expect them to make the most out of their final collegiate campaigns, following in the footsteps of last year’s defensive fortitude at the front line.

Vaughns will likely ave the tall task of filling in as the commander of the defense, manning calls in the middle of the field like Schwesinger did last season. Vaughns will also have the same benefit of working with inside linebackers coach Scott White, who helped mold Schwesinger into an AP All-American First Team nominee.

The 2016 Pac-12 Recruiter of the Year boasts a résumé filled with other talented names such as four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Anthony Barr and one-time All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks.

White will also likely emphasize pass coverage for his linebackers, as last year’s squad was picked apart in zones. Despite allowing the second-fewest total rushing yards in the Big Ten, UCLA was bottom-five in passing yards allowed.

But if one thing is clear, it’s that the Bruins will continue to stuff the run game.

Expect UCLA to experiment with some 3-4 coverages, where Chisom may step in alongside his linebacker peers to support a less fortified defensive line, especially with the loss of defensive tackler Jay Toia, who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in April.

Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin was not shy to be creative with how he used his linebackers, often placing Oladejo on the outside in blitzes last season. The now-Tennessee Titan led the Bruins last year with 4.5 sacks.

Perry could play a similar role with Chisom playing farther back, which would allow him to play to his strengths – burst and agility.

Although the linebackers corps that will be announced in the Rose Bowl looks much different than last season’s, the change allows UCLA to lean on its strengths while honing in on areas of needed improvement.

Between a proven coaching staff and players hungry to make a mark in starting roles, the Bruin linebackers could have the same impact as their 2024 predecessors – if not more.