The UCLA football program has seen a lot of movement in its skill positions since the start of the offseason.
The receivers will have a new position coach and passing game coordinator in Burl Toler III, who spent the last seven seasons at Cal Berkeley, in addition to new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri.
“Watching Coach Toler’s receivers on the field, I liked how they approached every snap,” head coach DeShaun Foster said in a press release. “He not only knows the West Coast landscape and how to find the right players, but what it takes to have them produce day in and day out.”
The receiver, running back and tight end rooms lost critical pieces to either the transfer portal or the NFL Draft but there are many more players who could step up this season under the tutelage of new coaches.
Here’s a full breakdown of UCLA’s skill positions entering spring practice, the second in a six-part series examining the post-portal outlook for every part of the roster.
Running back
Returning: Jalen Berger, R-Sr.; Cameron Jones, Fr.; Anthony Frias II, R-Jr.; Troy Leigber, R-Fr.; Peter Bario, R-Fr.; Leo Kemp, So.
Arriving: Carson Cox (four-star 2025 signee)
Departing: Deshun Murrell (transfer, unknown), Isaiah Carlson (transfer, unknown), T.J. Harden (transfer, unknown), Keegan Jones (exhausted eligibility), Anthony Adkins (exhausted eligibility)
Wide receiver
Returning: Rico Flores Jr., So.; Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, R-Jr.; Kwazi Gilmer, Fr.; Carter Shaw, R-Fr.; Ezavier Staples, R-Jr.; Russell Weir, Fr.; Grant Gray, R-Fr.
Arriving: Mikey Matthews (transfer, Cal Berkeley), Jaedon Wilson (transfer, Arkansas)
Departing: J.Michael Sturdivant (transfer, Florida), Logan Loya (transfer, Minnesota), Braden Pegan (transfer, unknown), Devanti Dillard (exhausted eligibility)
Tight end
Returning: Jack Pederson, R-So.; Hudson Habermehl, R-Sr.; Sam Summa, R-Jr.;
Arriving: Noah Flores (three-star 2025 signee), Dylan Sims (three-star 2025 signee)
Departing: Moliki Matavao (NFL Draft), Michael Churich (exhausted eligibility), Bryce Pierre (exhausted eligibility),
Top questions
Will the Bruins share the load at RB?
UCLA lost a big piece of its run game when starting running back T.J. Harden hit the transfer portal. The Inglewood High School product received a team-leading 124 touches but only tallied 506 net yards as the rushing attack struggled to produce throughout the season.
DeShaun Foster will put his knowledge as a former star and running backs coach to the test as he reshapes the room this spring. Jalen Berger has experience after working his way into eight games in the 2024 season and Anthony Frias II had a game-high 13 carries for 43 yards in the Bruins’ season finale against Fresno State.
UCLA was unable to land transfer running back Rayshon Luke — who would have been a strong candidate for starting running back — after his official visit with the Bruins. Splitting reps between returners who have already proved themselves could produce favorable results.
How can UCLA stretch the field?
The Bruins were never able to maximize the potential of deep threat J.Michael Sturidvant, and now they’ll never get the chance to after losing him to the transfer portal. If new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri decides to stretch the field with a new starting quarterback, two options stand above the rest.
Transfer Jaedon Wilson was able to haul in multiple passes of 10 yards or more in his redshirt sophomore at Arkansas. Kwazi Gilmer had a big freshman season with UCLA and had the longest reception of any Bruin receiver last year when he caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ethan Garbers against Nebraska.
The group X-factor
The depth of the skill positions has yet to be proven, but UCLA certainly has breadth. There is variety across the running back, receiver and tight end rooms that will give the coaching staff plenty of options to choose from when it builds its new offense this season. Whether the Bruins will need a downhill runner or a sure-handed tight end, there is someone on the roster for the job.