We continue our series of check-ins with rival UCLA. We talked to UCLA Wire editor Dylan McNeill about a number of topics. One is this: Who is Bob Chesney’s most important new football recruit?
“UCLA’s 2026 class leaves a lot to be desired,” McNeill began. “The 2026 recruiting cycle was a struggle for UCLA, as to be expected after firing your head coach and losing both your offensive and defensive coordinator mid-season last year. 247Sports has UCLA’s 2026 class at No. 49 in the nation and while there’s some talent being added to the program, the real excitement comes from the 2027 recruiting class. The Bruins have earned a commitment from five-star JuJu Johnson. Johnson is one of several highly-ranked defensive backs a part of the 2027 UCLA commits. Johnson, along with four-star commits Jerry Outhouse Jr., Pole Moala and Myles Baker could form a very compelling secondary in the future for UCLA.”
Advertisement
It should be reassuring for USC in the short term that UCLA and Bob Chesney didn’t clean up in the current year’s recruiting cycle, and that the real reinforcements won’t be ready to make an impact until next year, maybe even 2028. The point of emphasis for USC: Hammer UCLA now before the Bruins have a chance to get off the mat.
Contact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: UCLA football’s important recruit isn’t in 2026
