University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Joshua Swift to Wear No. 36, Honor Nick Pasquale
August 01, 2024 | Football
LOS ANGELES – UCLA football head coach DeShaun Foster awarded redshirt senior defensive back Joshua Swift the No. 36 on Wednesday, July 31, in honor of Nick Pasquale, who wore the number for the Bruins in 2012 and 2013 before his tragic death in a car accident.
"It was amazing," Swift said during Thursday morning media availability when asked how it felt to wear No. 36 for the first time. "To represent something bigger than yourself is what it's all about. It's what this sport is all about. That's what life is about. (I'm) extremely grateful. It's an honor."
"(UCLA) is my dream school. I live my dream every day, so (earning a scholarship) is not really something that clouds my mind – being a walk-on versus a scholarship player. I just love being here every day and being around the guys."
"The way (Swift) approaches the game, we wanted (the person wearing No. 36) to be a potential walk-on who can try to win a scholarship and just exudes what being a Bruin is. Discipline, respect and enthusiasm," Foster said during his first fall camp media availability on Wednesday. "He's the same guy every day. He's somebody most of the players respect. They love him. And it's not because he's a great football player. It's because he does things the right way."
Pasquale was a 5-7, 172-pound redshirt freshman walk-on receiver for the Bruins who had seen his first game action a week before his death in September 2013. He was known for his passion for the game, his limitless determination and his high qualities as a teammate. Current UCLA tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel was a teammate of Pasquale.
Swift walked onto the football team in 2020, serving on scout teams in practice for the entirety of the season. A product of Chaparral High School in Temecula, Calif., Swift saw his first playing team in the 2021 season and was later awarded the Nick "Pac" Pasquale Memorial Award for Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year at the annual team banquet.
Swift played two games in both 2022 and 2023 and logged his first-career tackles (four) against North Carolina Central on Sept. 16, 2023.
The previous two Bruins to wear No. 36 were defensive back Alex Johnson in 2022 and 2023 and wide receiver/running back Ethan Fernea from 2019-21.
The Bruins' 2024 season will begin Saturday, Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. (PT), as UCLA travels to Honolulu to face Hawai'i. The contest will be televised on CBS. UCLA's home opener at The Rose Bowl features its first-ever Big Ten Conference matchup versus Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
"It was amazing," Swift said during Thursday morning media availability when asked how it felt to wear No. 36 for the first time. "To represent something bigger than yourself is what it's all about. It's what this sport is all about. That's what life is about. (I'm) extremely grateful. It's an honor."
"(UCLA) is my dream school. I live my dream every day, so (earning a scholarship) is not really something that clouds my mind – being a walk-on versus a scholarship player. I just love being here every day and being around the guys."
"The way (Swift) approaches the game, we wanted (the person wearing No. 36) to be a potential walk-on who can try to win a scholarship and just exudes what being a Bruin is. Discipline, respect and enthusiasm," Foster said during his first fall camp media availability on Wednesday. "He's the same guy every day. He's somebody most of the players respect. They love him. And it's not because he's a great football player. It's because he does things the right way."
Pasquale was a 5-7, 172-pound redshirt freshman walk-on receiver for the Bruins who had seen his first game action a week before his death in September 2013. He was known for his passion for the game, his limitless determination and his high qualities as a teammate. Current UCLA tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel was a teammate of Pasquale.
Swift walked onto the football team in 2020, serving on scout teams in practice for the entirety of the season. A product of Chaparral High School in Temecula, Calif., Swift saw his first playing team in the 2021 season and was later awarded the Nick "Pac" Pasquale Memorial Award for Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year at the annual team banquet.
Swift played two games in both 2022 and 2023 and logged his first-career tackles (four) against North Carolina Central on Sept. 16, 2023.
The previous two Bruins to wear No. 36 were defensive back Alex Johnson in 2022 and 2023 and wide receiver/running back Ethan Fernea from 2019-21.
The Bruins' 2024 season will begin Saturday, Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. (PT), as UCLA travels to Honolulu to face Hawai'i. The contest will be televised on CBS. UCLA's home opener at The Rose Bowl features its first-ever Big Ten Conference matchup versus Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballUCLA Football Donor Dinner 2026
Thursday, January 29
The First 48 Hours - Head Coach Bob Chesney Welcomed at UCLA
Friday, December 12
Bruin Insider Show - Bob Chesney (Dec. 10, 2025)
Wednesday, December 10
Cinematic Recap - UCLA Introduces Head Coach Bob Chesney (Dec. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, December 09