LOS ANGELES — UCLA showcased 11 new starters on defense last season, two of whom were Isaiah Chisom and JonJon Vaughns. The pair ended up as the Bruins’ top tacklers for the 2025 season, and Vaughns even finished the season with the third-most tackles in the Big Ten.
Neither will be in Westwood in 2026.
Chisom departed for Oklahoma State via the transfer portal, and Vaughns – who juggled baseball and football before the 2025 season – is on his way toward a potential NFL career. It goes without saying that there is plenty of playing time up for grabs at the Mike and the Will positions, and new head coach Bob Chesney will have both new and old options to fill the gaps left by the veteran linebackers.
The first up to consider would be Sammy Omosigho, a transfer from Oklahoma, who, out of all the returning Bruins and transfer portal additions, is arguably the most shoo-in starter on the defense.
For the Sooners, Omosigho recorded 50 tackles a year ago, and across his career in Norman, recorded four pass deflections, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Building a rotation outside of Omosigho – and James Madison transfer Drew Spinogatti – will be paramount. Returning Bruins, Jalen Woods and Donovyn Pellot, are primed for expanded roles under Chesney and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler.
Woods and Pellot combined for 66 tackles in 2025, while the former is the leading tackler returning from the unit. Only safety Cole Martin has more tackles and elected to return to UCLA under Chesney.
Former Cal linebackers coach Vic So’oto is set to lead the Bruins’ linebackers group in 2026.
And keep an eye on freshman linebacker Matthew Muasau – the younger brother of former UCLA linebacker Darius Muasau, who now plays in the NFL for the New York Giants – as a potential first-year option coming from the Trinity League with St. John Bosco.
As the first transfer portal window has wrapped – although exceptions are always possible – here’s a full breakdown of the movement within UCLA’s linebackers entering spring, the fifth in a seven-part series examining the post-portal scholarship outlook for every part of the roster. Previously, we looked at the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, and defensive linemen.
Linebacker
Returning: Jalen Woods, R-Sr.; Donovyn Pellot, R-Jr.; Mone Malafu, R-Jr.; Ty Lee, R-Jr.
Arriving: Sammy Omosigho, Sr. (transfer, Oklahoma); Drew Spinogatti, R-Sr. (transfer, James Madison); Anthony Sacca, R-Fr. (transfer, Notre Dame); Matthew Muasau, Fr. (St. John Bosco High); Malaki Soliai-Tui, Fr. (Kahuku High, Kahuku, Hawaii).
Departing: Isaiah Chisom (transfer, Oklahoma State); Ben Perry (transfer, Louisville); JonJon Vaughns (exhausted eligibility).
Do the Bruins have enough depth at linebacker?
Outside of Omosigho, Spinogatti and Woods, the Bruins have very few players with experience in an FBS setting, nor a power-four setting. Losing Ben Perry to the transfer portal back to Louisville – where he transferred into UCLA from a year ago – placed the Bruins in a bit of a predicament in terms of where playing time is going to come from.
Scott Taylor – a sophomore edge rusher – shows the skillset to play in coverage a little bit more, as his size and IQ could lead to a potential role at the Will, which could help build some depth where the Bruins need it.
Additionally, with another transfer portal window to come, there is plenty of time for Chesney to explore further options across the linebackers room should the Bruins deem help be needed in the position group.