JonJon Vaughns
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Eight Bruins Earn All-Big Ten Recognition
December 04, 2025 | Football
ROSEMONT, Ill. โ Eight members of the UCLA football team were honored this week as the 2025 All-Big Ten Football Teams were announced. Separate teams were determined after voting by conference coaches and media concluded.
All eight Bruins received honorable mention acclaim. Junior defensive back Andre Jordan Jr. and redshirt senior linebacker JonJon Vaughns were recognized across both lists. Making the cut on the coaches team were junior punter Will Karoll and redshirt senior defensive lineman Gary Smith III. Voted in by the media were redshirt junior long snapper Salem Abdul-Wahab, junior kicker Mateen Bhaghani, redshirt senior offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio and redshirt sophomore defensive back Rodrick Pleasant.
Jordan, a cornerback who entered the starting lineup in Game 5, finished his first season at UCLA with a league-high-tying 10 pass breakups. The Oregon State transfer had 19 total tackles (12-7-19). He formed a dynamic duo with fellow newcomer Pleasant, who joined the Bruins from Oregon and immediately made an impact at the opposite cornerback spot. Pleasant broke up seven passes and also registered 36 total tackles (22-14-36), 1.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and a blocked kick over his 10 starts.
Vaughns broke out in his final campaign, posting a team-leading 107 total tackles (46-61-107) across his 12 starts that placed him fourth in the league. Six of his stops went for negative yardage โ including one sack โ and he had a fumble recovery. Also shining in their final years were DiGiorgio and Smith on the lines. DiGiorgio started all 11 of his games played and found a home at right guard after beginning the initial three contests at both tackle positions. Smith was a stalwart at defensive tackle, starting all 12 games and finishing with 39 total tackles (18-21-39), 1.5 TFL and half a sack.
UCLA's special teams success began with Abdul-Wahab and saw Bhaghani and Karoll log standout numbers. Bhaghani, who was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after turning in a game-winning field goal versus Maryland (Oct. 18), finished the season making 16 of his 20 field-goal attempts. He made a pair of 50-yard tries, including a 54-yarder in the team's 42-37 decision over then-No. 7 Penn State (Oct. 4). Bhaghani also converted 22 extra points without a miss and handled kickoff duties. Karoll averaged 43.5 yards per punt across his 44 attempts, with 13 of them placed inside the 20-yard line and eight traveling 50 yards or further.
Also receiving recognition was redshirt senior tight end Hudson Habermehl, who was named a 2025 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree. The Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior, are in good academic standing, and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.ย
All eight Bruins received honorable mention acclaim. Junior defensive back Andre Jordan Jr. and redshirt senior linebacker JonJon Vaughns were recognized across both lists. Making the cut on the coaches team were junior punter Will Karoll and redshirt senior defensive lineman Gary Smith III. Voted in by the media were redshirt junior long snapper Salem Abdul-Wahab, junior kicker Mateen Bhaghani, redshirt senior offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio and redshirt sophomore defensive back Rodrick Pleasant.
Jordan, a cornerback who entered the starting lineup in Game 5, finished his first season at UCLA with a league-high-tying 10 pass breakups. The Oregon State transfer had 19 total tackles (12-7-19). He formed a dynamic duo with fellow newcomer Pleasant, who joined the Bruins from Oregon and immediately made an impact at the opposite cornerback spot. Pleasant broke up seven passes and also registered 36 total tackles (22-14-36), 1.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and a blocked kick over his 10 starts.
Vaughns broke out in his final campaign, posting a team-leading 107 total tackles (46-61-107) across his 12 starts that placed him fourth in the league. Six of his stops went for negative yardage โ including one sack โ and he had a fumble recovery. Also shining in their final years were DiGiorgio and Smith on the lines. DiGiorgio started all 11 of his games played and found a home at right guard after beginning the initial three contests at both tackle positions. Smith was a stalwart at defensive tackle, starting all 12 games and finishing with 39 total tackles (18-21-39), 1.5 TFL and half a sack.
UCLA's special teams success began with Abdul-Wahab and saw Bhaghani and Karoll log standout numbers. Bhaghani, who was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after turning in a game-winning field goal versus Maryland (Oct. 18), finished the season making 16 of his 20 field-goal attempts. He made a pair of 50-yard tries, including a 54-yarder in the team's 42-37 decision over then-No. 7 Penn State (Oct. 4). Bhaghani also converted 22 extra points without a miss and handled kickoff duties. Karoll averaged 43.5 yards per punt across his 44 attempts, with 13 of them placed inside the 20-yard line and eight traveling 50 yards or further.
Also receiving recognition was redshirt senior tight end Hudson Habermehl, who was named a 2025 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree. The Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior, are in good academic standing, and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.ย
Players Mentioned
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