UCLA football will not play its first 2026 campaign until Sep 5 against California. But that does not mean there are not positional battles occurring across the gridiron. Throughout the rest of the spring and summer camp, the Bruins will be jockeying with one another for top position on the depth chart. With this in mind, Daily Bruin Sports editor Connor Dullinger gives his predictions for the defensive starting 11 come game one of the 2026 campaign.

[Related: Dully’s Drop: Predicting UCLA football’s offensive starting 11 for the 2026 campaign]

Defense:

Defensive Tackle:

Amier Washington, redshirt junior, 6’2”, 270 lbs
2025 stats at Texas Tech: Seven total tackles

The Bruin defensive group with the most question marks surrounding it is, without a doubt, the interior of the defensive line. UCLA lost former Bruin defensive lineman Gary Smith III to the NFL, and Siale Taupaki and Keanu Williams to the transfer portal. And, throughout Spring practice, a multitude of different players were cycled through the first team to take reps. But most consistently in the starting rotation is Amier Washington. The redshirt junior brings years of experience to Westwood, displaying his ability to compete at a high level. His most productive season came in 2023, when he garnered three sacks and a forced fumble. Considering his production at a Power Four school and the openness in the room, I see Washington manning one of the main defensive tackle roles throughout the 2026 season.

Tyson Ford, redshirt junior, 6’5”, 300 lbs
2025 stats at Cal: Three total tackles

Joining Washington with a high level of pedigree but a lack of production is Tyson Ford. The redshirt junior spent two seasons at Notre Dame and one at Cal after coming out of John Burroughs School as the second-ranked recruit from Missouri. But three years later, Ford has little production to his name, yet is still a highly sought-after prospect, playing at three Power Four schools, due to his size and production before the collegiate level. I see Washington having a stronger hold on one of the starting defensive tackle spots, with Ford more likely to substitute out with the Bruin depth. Ford saw the most first-team reps at the second starting defensive tackle spot, along with redshirt junior defensive lineman A.J. Fuimaono, throughout Spring practice, and while Fuimaono could get the edge due to his familiarity in Westwood, I think Ford’s size alongside his potential upside that has yet to be tapped gives him the edge for the other starting interior spot alongside Washington.

Defensive End:

Sahir West, redshirt sophomore, 6’4”, 270 lbs
2025 stats at James Madison: 45 total tackles, four passes defended, seven sacks, one forced fumble

There is no doubt that Sahir West will be an everyday starter in the Bruins’ starting defensive unit. West was a highly sought-after transfer after claiming Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors last season at JMU, and a First Team Freshman All-American nod from The Athletic. West was particularly impressive in the Sun Belt championship game against Troy, logging 10 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. When West announced his transfer to UCLA, it was a huge win for head coach Bob Chesney and his defense, as many top teams tried to bring West to their program. While it is yet to be seen if West’s game can translate to the Big Ten, it may have high expectations for the redshirt sophomore to anchor the Bruins’ defensive line and provide defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler with the explosive plays and chaos that he produced at JMU. The Bruins finished dead last in the nation in sacks last season, with just 10 through 12 games. West tallied seven in just his first full season of collegiate football. While West has been unable to prove his effectiveness in practice, he is easily the first one to the quarterback on most plays, and would be lighting up the sack column if he could tackle the quarterback. The expectations for West are probably the highest of anyone else on the team for UCLA’s 2026 season.

Aiden Gobaira, redshirt senior, 6’5”, 255 lbs
2025 stats at JMU: 38 total tackles, four sacks

The Bruins may not use two traditional defensive ends come the 2026 campaign. Throughout Spring practice, Hitschler has deployed West, two defensive tackles, and sophomore linebacker Scott Taylor as a hybrid middle/edge linebacker, effectively replacing the left defensive end for UCLA’s starting defensive line. There is no saying if Hitschler will use this scheme for the 2026 season, or if he will switch between that scheme and a more traditional 4-3 defensive set throughout games or the season, depending on the opponent. However, if Hitschler does switch to a more traditional 4-3, then expect Aiden Gobaira to man the left defensive end spot opposite West. Gobaira is familiar with Hitschler’s scheme, playing at JMU last season, where he logged four sacks playing behind West. In a more wide-open defensive end room, I can see Gobaira getting the starting nod opposite West. Gobaira was a four-star recruit out of high school, but failed to see the field after three seasons at Notre Dame due to injury and competition at his position. He saw a breakout year at JMU last season, where he earned Third Team All-Sub Belt honors despite making only one start. Gobaira could see an increased role at UCLA after a productive season at JMU and has already gained the praises of the coaching staff early throughout spring practice.

Linebacker:

Sammy Omosigho, redshirt senior, 6’1”, 235 lbs
2025 stats at Oklahoma: 50 total tackles, three passes defended, two sacks

Outside of West, Sammy Omosigho is one of my favorite additions Chesney made to the Bruin squad. There was a massive hole at the middle linebacker spot after former Bruins JonJon Vaughns graduated and Isaiah Chisom transferred to Oklahoma State, and Omosigho may be the perfect replacement. The Oklahoma transfer is an athletic phenom, displaying the speed and agility to play sideline-to-sideline and also make plays in coverage. But the combination of his quickness and strength makes him a lethal tackler that can take down running backs in the open field or could be used effectively in the pass rush. Omosigho saw his most productive season in Norman in 2025, logging two sacks and 50 tackles. Omosigho comes to Westwood with three seasons of high-level production at an SEC juggernaut in Oklahoma. Combine his experience with a top secondary and a wide-open middle linebacker room, and the sky is the limit for Omosigho, who could easily top the Big Ten in tackles while also contributing to splash plays, whether it’s blitzing the quarterback or forcing a fumble on the tailback. Expect to see Omosigho as an every-down player who will contribute early and often, while also manning the “green-dot” duties.

Scott Taylor, sophomore, 6’4”, 235 lbs
2025 stats at UCLA: 12 total tackles, one forced fumble

Like I said previously, Taylor has been used as a hybrid edge/inside linebacker throughout the Spring. Taylor was an underrated bright spot during his freshman season at UCLA, making plays on special teams and showing his worth in the box when given opportunities at linebacker despite being a true freshman. After an offseason where Taylor put on muscle while maintaining his speed and explosiveness, Taylor is poised for a breakout sophomore season where he can make plays on the left edge, rushing the quarterback, or dropping into the box, where he can dominate the ground game or make plays in coverage. Little can be said if Taylor will be successful as an edge rusher, but considering the weight and muscle he put on, and the speed he boasted as a true freshman, Taylor could be a dangerous X-factor in Hitschler’s defense. At the minimum, Taylor can be a solid inside linebacker who piles on tackles and controls the run game alongside Omosigho. For now, though, it seems Hitschler will use Taylor in this hybrid linebacker role, which puts him all over the field, including on the line and in the box.

Jalen Woods, redshirt senior, 6’1”, 225 lbs
2025 stats at UCLA: 47 total tackles, three passes defended, 1.5 sacks

Manning the third and final linebacker spot in Hitschler’s defense will be Jalen Woods. While this linebacker spot is the most up in the air and could be contested by redshirt junior linebacker Donavyn Pellot or redshirt senior Drew Spinogatti, Woods looked to get the most first-team reps and has proven that he could produce even in a backup role last season at UCLA. Woods garnered 47 tackles and 1.5 sacks as the third linebacker behind Chisom and Vaughns in UCLA’s defense last season, and could see an even more increased role in a UCLA defense that looks to have improved and utilizes three linebackers, giving him more opportunity to shine. However, do not expect this to be a lock. While Taylor and Omosigho look to be every-down linebackers, I can see Woods starting with the third linebacker role and losing it to either Pellot or Spinogatti.

Outside Cornerback:

Rodrick Pleasant, redshirt junior, 5’10”, 175 lbs
2025 stats at UCLA: 36 total tackles, seven passes defended, one fumble recovery

There is little debate that the defensive back rooms are one of the strongest and deepest position groups on the UCLA football team. And leading that charge is the outside cornerback room. There was little to write home about for the 2025 Bruins, but the secondary may have been one of the highlights, and one of the most important things Chesney did was to retain Rodrick Pleasant, Scooter Jackson and Cole Martin. Pleasant did not play in any 11v.11 drills throughout the Spring due to recovery from a surgery he had in the offseason – dealing with an injury that kept him out of the USC game in November – but there is little doubt that Pleasant will be one of the two starting outside cornerbacks come game one of the 2026 season. Pleasant may be slightly undersized for an outside corner, standing at 5-foot-10, but he boasts the speed to keep up with the most talented and speediest of receivers in the Big Ten. Pleasant garnered seven passes defended and one fumble recovery in his first season in Westwood, earning him a Big Ten Honorable Mention nod. And with an improved defense alongside him, Pleasant could see an even better season in year two at UCLA.

Scooter Jackson, senior, 6’1”, 185 lbs
2025 stats at UCLA: 44 total tackles, three passes defended, two interceptions, one forced fumble

Joining Pleasant on the outside will no doubt be Scooter Jackson. The senior was impactful in his first season in Westwood, logging a team-high two interceptions, a forced fumble and three passes defended. While Jackson largely played as a nickel corner in last season’s defense, making eight starts at the position, he will most likely make the move to outside cornerback opposite Pleasant to accommodate the addition of DJ Barksdale and get the most usage of the team’s best corners in the 2026 starting defense. Jackson stands at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds and boasts solid speed and route coverage, giving him the skills and measurables to play outside cornerback, and like Pleasant, he was one of the main bright spots in an otherwise dreary 2025 UCLA season. Jackson and Pleasant on the boundary should give Chesney optimism that the Bruins can excel in the pass defense game, boasting two cornerbacks who not only already spent one year at UCLA but proved they can produce, even in a defense on a team that won just three games during the 2025 campaign. It also helps that Hitschler excels at developing cornerbacks, largely working with the secondary prior to joining UCLA, having developed NFL cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant during his time at Cincinnati.

Slot Cornerback:

DJ Barksdale, senior, 5’9”, 181 lbs
2025 stats at JMU: 36 total tackles, 12 passes defended, two interceptions

The addition of DJ Barksdale to Westwood made Jackson’s permanent move to outside cornerback necessary due to his major production at JMU last season. Barksdale logged 11 passes defended and two interceptions at JMU last season, giving the Bruins another ball-hawking defensive back who can make splash plays across the gridiron and disrupt the opposing team’s pass offense. Barksdale made 14 starts at JMU last season, with 12 at nickel and two at outside corner, giving Hitschler the versatility to move Barksdale around the field and disguise coverages. However, I expect Barksdale to exclusively man the starting nickel spot due to his size at 5-foot-9, his proven production in the slot and the presence of both Jackson and Pleasant on the outside. The trio of Barksdale, Jackson and Pleasant as the starting three cornerbacks gives UCLA a formidable pass defense that can anchor the secondary and provide proven production and experience at a high level.

Strong Safety:
Cole Martin, redshirt junior, 5’9”, 190 lbs
2025 stats at UCLA: 65 total tackles, three passes defended, one interception

The third returner, alongside Jackson and Pleasant, Cole Martin was a mainstay in the Bruins’ secondary last season, providing UCLA with an undersized but hard-hitting strong safety who can make explosive plays with big hits over the middle of the field that disrupt passes, or as a scrappy defensive back that can punch balls out or force turnovers. While he is sized as a nickel corner, his downfield attack and hard-hitting style make him a solid, strong safety that can support in coverage over the middle of the field or along the boundary, but also can move into the box and help defend the ground game. While the addition of Iowa State safety Ta’Shawn James does make things interesting, I expect Martin to be the day one starter at strong safety and to be somewhere in the secondary even if James takes his spot.

Free Safety:

Tao Johnson, redshirt senior, 6’1”, 193 lbs
2025 stats at Utah: 51 total tackles, three passes defended, two interceptions

My third and final favorite defensive addition behind West and Omosigho is former Utah safety Tao Johnson. Johnson is a true ball-hawking single-high free safety that boasts the speed and range to close down any separating receiver. A former wide receiver, he has great hand skills and tracking ability, making him a solid defender in coverage. His fluid hips also allow him to change direction and respond to plays instinctively. Johnson also has the football IQ to deceive the quarterback’s eyes and trick them into poorly-timed or misplaced passes, leading to turnovers. Johnson is the exact player needed to replace and is a major improvement over former Bruin free safety Key Lawrence. With Pleasant, Jackson, Barksdale and Martin in front of him, Johnson will be an impactful last line of defense for the Bruins that can create splash plays and prevent opposing teams from moving downfield in one play. Expect Johnson to be an everyday starter at free safety who will make crucial plays early and often.