LOS ANGELES — Like Nico Iamaleava on offense, safety Cole Martin is surrounded by new faces for the fourth time in his college career. Martin’s decision to remain at UCLA amid the regime change was personal as his father, Demetrice, the Bruins’ defensive backs coach, rejoined Arizona State this past offseason.
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“It was really an easy decision once I met coach (Bob) Chesney,” Cole Martin said April 16. “He wants to win. And that was something that really stuck with me. I could tell he was genuine and he really meant it.”
Before spring camp, Chesney sold his message to Martin, defensive backs Rodrick Pleasant and Scooter Jackson and the rest of the defensive returners. But to win, that group must coalesce with the defensive newcomers and a completely altered staff.
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That starts with defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler, who like offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy, followed Chesney from James Madison to UCLA. He brings experience from one-year stints at Alabama and Wisconsin and four seasons at Cincinnati. He conveys his defensive philosophies through unabashed enthusiasm and the mouth of a sailor as he trots around the practice field motivating anyone in sight.
Hitschler’s motto: “If they think your dreams are crazy, show them what crazy dreams can do.”
As for his defensive scheme:
“Front multiplicity and coverage consistency is what we talk about,” he said April 9. “The principles are just competitive and a brotherhood.”
Front multiplicity in UCLA’s front-seven begins with the size on the defensive line. JMU transfer Sahir West, at 6-foot-3 and 279 pounds, is the star of that group, and arguably the best player who followed Chesney to UCLA. He finished fifth in the Sun Belt with seven sacks last season and will apply the pressure to disrupt opponents this season.
Fellow JMU transfer Aiden Gobaira, who had four sacks in 2025, bookends the defensive line. Cal transfer Tyson Ford will plug the A-gap and rush from the middle.
The linebackers role in UCLA’s defense will be fluid with the responsibility to pressure the quarterback, be active against the run game and drop back in coverage. Oklahoma transfer Sammy Omosigho is the captain of the defense and possesses the aura necessary for that role.
“I just try to be a genuine guy,” Omosigho said April 16. “From the first day I got here, I try to elevate, I try to work hard – it’s hard to listen to someone that doesn’t work hard – so I try to show that I work hard day in and day out. Try to be a good guy, a guy that people can talk to, people they can relate to, feel free and open to. But also, a guy that has a high standard.”
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Returning linebackers Jalen Woods, Donovyn Pellot and Scott Taylor can look to Omosigho as an example.
As for the secondary, that’s where Hitschler built his career. He relies heavily on a slot cornerback in a five-defensive back set. That’s why it’s crucial that JMU transfer DJ Barksdale followed Hitschler to UCLA as the rising senior understands the challenge of playing slot cornerback in Hitschler’s defense.
“He can lock a man up and play in that slot, which is a tough position to play man coverage, and he excels at it,” Hitschler said of Barksdale on April 9. “But the biggest thing is his effort and attitude.”
Returning defensive back Scooter Jackson could see time at slot corner as Hitschler said “he was moving all around” during the early part of spring camp. However, Jackson didn’t appear at UCLA’s practices for the second half of spring ball, and didn’t play in the Bruins’ spring game as he was “working on some academic issues,” his high school coach Kevin Pearson of Warren High told the Southern California News Group.
Ultimately, Jackson was ruled “academically ineligible.” There’s been no update on his status, but he remains on UCLA’s roster heading into fall camp.
His unavailability may put a burden on Barksdale, but the rest of UCLA’s defensive back room is arguably the deepest group on the roster.
Returning players Rodrick Pleasant and Robert Stafford III will play opposite each other on the outside. Virginia Tech transfer Dante Lovett and Montana State transfer Jhase McMillan each had a strong spring camp.
Martin and Utah transfer Tao Johnson are interchangeable on the back end, each equipped to contribute inside the box or dropping back. Martin, like Omosigho, will be a vocal leader with eyes everywhere.
That was validated when each accompanied Chesney to Big Ten Media Days last week, representing UCLA’s change for the better on the defensive side.
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