UCLA Football continued preseason camp this week at Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine, where the Bruins are spending several days away from campus as head coach Bob Chesney continues building the foundation of his first team in Westwood.
"I thought we had a good day," Chesney said. "I thought it just keeps getting better and better and that's what it's got to be."
The head coach described an offense handling increased pressure packages, a defense continuing to challenge every rep, and a team getting cleaner in the procedural details that often separate winning and losing programs.
"It's physical as can be right now which is great," Chesney said. "And then when it's time to make some plays, we're doing a good job of that on both sides of the ball."
BRUINS COME TOGETHER IN ORANGE COUNTY
When UCLA packed up for Orange County earlier this week, the move was about more than simply doing drills on a different practice field.
Chesney wanted the Bruins to experience life together away from their normal routine.
By sharing a hotel, riding buses, eating meals together and spending time away from campus distractions, the staff hopes to accelerate the team's growth before the season opener.
"I like being out here," Chesney said. "I think this was a big part of it was us just continue to build connectivity, reteach our systems, and then just continue to develop on a day-to-day basis."
The team is taking advantage of every opportunity to strengthen those relationships.
On their day off on Wednesday, the Bruins hit the beach, enjoyed a cookout, and spent time together with no meetings.
"It's great. It's great," Chesney said. "Stuff like that is a big part of what we're doing down here.”
The week has also provided an opportunity to connect with UCLA supporters throughout Orange County. Chesney cited a recent alumni gathering in Newport Beach and the turnout at practice as reminders of the program's reach beyond Westwood.
"The amount of people down in this area that are supportive of this program is great," Chesney said.
DEREK CARR BRINGS NFL EXPERIENCE TO WESTWOOD
One of the more notable additions around practice this week has been former NFL quarterback Derek Carr.
Carr, who recently joined the staff as a special advisor to Chesney, has been spending time with UCLA's quarterbacks and coaches, offering insight drawn from more than a decade playing the position at football's highest level.
According to Chesney, the connection came through UCLA General Manager Darrick Yray who, attended Fresno State with Carr and served as an offensive assistant and assistant director of football operations from 2008-14 during Carr’s collegiate career with the Bulldogs.
"He was going to be around a lot and said that he would love to be able to help out," Chesney said. "And I think when Derek Carr asked to help out, the answer is yes."
For UCLA's quarterbacks, the value goes beyond another set of eyes, as Carr delivers a perspective that only comes with being a four-time Pro Bowl selection who threw for 41,245 yards and 257 touchdowns in his 11-year NFL career.
"I think it's this ability to communicate with the quarterback in real time and in hostile environments is what he brings to it," Chesney said. "I think it's pretty awesome to hear a different guy's perspective that's done it for a very long time at an elite, at the highest level.”
UPDATE ON THE FRONT LINES
One of Chesney's most encouraging observations from camp centered on the offensive line.
"I thought today was really good," Chesney said.
The challenge was significant with some members of the offensive line sidelined, allowing the rest of the group to test its depth as the Bruins worked on difficult protection situations for the offense.
Chesney liked what he saw.
"I thought they did an unbelievable job of passing that off and they did an unbelievable job of not allowing the penetration," he said. "The run game inside in particular has been phenomenal"
As camp continues, the competition for playing time remains ongoing.
"We're going to need all of them," Chesney said. "They’ve got to keep pushing each other and they're doing that."
WAYNE STANDS OUT
Among the individual performers drawing praise from Chesney, running back Wayne Knight was one of the standouts.
Chesney made it clear the fifth-year transfer from James Madison has consistently impressed throughout camp.
"He looks unbelievable," Chesney said.
What stands out most is his complete skill set.
"He's explosive,” Chesney said. “He's just hard to put a pad on.”
Knight spent his first four collegiate seasons at JMU, and earned Second Team All-American honors in 2025 after setting a school-record with 2,039 all-purpose yards.
"He’s a threat out of the backfield and he does a great job in the protection game," Chesney said. “He's complete."
Last season, Knight established career highs with 1,373 yards rushing and nine touchdowns.
ENERGY MATTERS
Another player earning recognition from Chesney this week is defensive lineman Darold DeNgohe.
"It's been great to have him around and have him back as part of our team," Chesney said.
DeNgohe played under Chesney in 2024 as a redshirt freshman, appearing in 12 games and recording 28 tackles and one sack before transferring to Rutgers for the 2025 season and returning to Chesney’s program in Los Angeles.
"I want people here that love life," Chesney said. "And Daryl absolutely loves life."
Whether it's on the bus, at the hotel or along the sideline, Chesney sees a player constantly lifting the energy around him.
"Everywhere he is, he's having fun and bringing people with him," Chesney said. “But when it's time to do the hard things and the tough things, he's able to flip that switch and go do the hard things and the tough things.”