University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Spring Football Notebook: Adjusting to the New World in Westwood
April 23, 2026 | Football
As UCLA's spring football practices wind toward the May 2 Spring Game at the Rose Bowl, players are continuing to adjust to the pace, demands and energy of first-year head coach Bob Chesney and his staff.
With 56 newcomers on the roster, including 43 transfers, spring has served as a reset period for a program in transition — an opportunity to align habits, expectations and culture. Among those navigating the change are linebacker Sammy Omosigho, a transfer from Oklahoma, and wide receiver Landon Ellis, who followed Chesney from James Madison.
THE CHESNEY EXPERIENCE:
For Sammy Omosigho, a Texas native who played three seasons at the University of Oklahoma appearing in 36 games, the decision to join Chesney at UCLA came down to more than football.
"Man, opportunity, you know, Coach Chesney, he's a winner wherever he goes," Omosigho said. "It didn't take a lot of convincing."
That confidence solidified during early conversations.
"When I was talking to Coach Chesney in his office for our meeting, it just clicked," Omosigho said. "I was like, 'OK, this guy's a great guy. I want to play for him.'"
Ellis, who followed Chesney's staff from James Madison, framed it less as a leap and more as a continuation.
"Honestly, I think my visit [to UCLA] really sealed the deal," Ellis said. "[Playing for Chesney] was the most fun I've ever had playing football."
Competition, he said, defines the program's daily rhythm.
"Every high-level football player wants to compete at all times, and that's what we do," Ellis said. "That's what he preaches day in and day out."
Bruins running back Javian "Jet" Thomas also quickly saw the benefits of staying at UCLA to play for the new coach. Thomas played in 10 games for the Bruins in 2025, making four starts and rushed for 294 yards and one touchdown.
"He didn't even say, 'we could win,'" Thomas said. "He said, 'we're going to win.' And that stuck with me."
Linebacker Scott Taylor, who appeared in all 12 games as a freshman last season, has already enjoyed learning from the new coaching staff.
"Coach Chesney, obviously he's just one of the greatest leaders I've been able to be coached by," Taylor said. "I love his energy and I love playing for him."
And Ellis, who already has enjoyed success in his one year with Chesney, stresses that what everyone in Westwood is seeing on the field is not a mirage.
"It's not for show," he said of the energy around him. "That's him every day."
HEADING WEST
At times this spring for Omosigho and Ellis, the football has been the easy part. Learning to live in Los Angeles and soak in what it means to be a Bruin after spending the previous three years in Norman, Oklahoma and Virginia has been a challenge.
"It's been pretty crazy to be honest. It's been a blast," Omosigho said of learning UCLA's history. "Hearing that Jackie Robinson played four sports here — that's incredible. We are still talking about that now."
Los Angeles itself took some getting used to.
"Traffic. Oh my goodness," Omosigho said. "You have no parking and then when there is parking, you have to pay for it."
Ellis found the contrast sharper.
"It's a night-and-day difference," he said of moving from Harrisonburg, Virginia. "I still get star struck sometimes going places and seeing people."
The Third Team All-Sun Belt performer is also still looking for some new favorite restaurants in Westwood.
"No Bojangles. No Cracker Barrel," Ellis said. "It's different."
Both players agree the tradeoff has been worth it
"You can't beat the beaches and you have this beautiful campus," Omosigho said. "It's amazing."
BACK FOR MORE
For Thomas and Taylor, the spring is an opportunity for them to build on last season.
"It was a little iffy last season," Thomas said. "It didn't really play out too well for me — but it's my last season. I really didn't want to go [anywhere else]."
What mattered was trust.
"They told me they wanted me back," Thomas said. "And they kept Coach A.J. [Steward]. I mean, what more can I ask for?"
Taylor's decision came even earlier.
"I knew I was staying before I even met [Chesney] in person," he said.
The fit mattered most.
"What I'm doing in the defense — I love my fit in this scheme," Taylor said.
QB CONTINUES TO STAND OUT
All four players have felt the presence of quarterback Nico Iamaleava continue to evolve throughout the spring.
"When he comes out here on the field, he's running the show," Ellis said. "You could tell he's running the show."
Iamaleava averaged 175.3 passing yards per game last season, and accounted for 17 of the Bruins 24 total touchdowns. While he was a bright spot for UCLA on offense in 2025, Thomas and the others has seen him emergence even more as a leader in the spring.
"Nico's been that dude, man," he said. "He's doing a good job of being more consistent vocally."
The urgency stands out.
"That fire that he brings to the quarterback position is different," Ellis said. "Before the play was even over, he was walking to go fix the guy that messed up."
THE TOOLS TO THE TABLE
Omosigho is a veteran of some big, high pressure games from his time at Oklahoma. Where he ranked fifth on the Sooners with 50 total tackles.
"When you play at a certain level, that just stays in you," he said. "That level of competitiveness and aggression just comes with you."
So far in his career, Ellis has starred at the University of Richmond and James Madison, but he feels his experience of playing on the biggest stage in the College Football Playoff, where he had three catches for 83 yards, including a 50-yard catch vs. Oregon, will help him every week in the Big Ten.
"It kind of proved to ourselves that we can play at that level," he said. "We can compete with those guys."
Thomas is excited to see how the overall experience plays out with the talented group of running backs.
"The run game is just — it's unmatched," he said. "We got a lot of good guys in the room that can do almost everything."
