UCLA Bruins wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer enters his sophomore season with high expectations and even bolder goals. During UCLA’s 2025 fall camp, the 6’2″ wideout declared, “I want to go win the Biletnikoff,” something no UCLA player has ever done.
Gilmer has been one of the standouts in UCLA’s 2025 offseason, drawing praise from coaches and media alike. Reports from spring practice and fall camp indicate significant growth in his game. “My freshman year, I just wanted to get my foot in the water. Now that I got it, it’s over.”
A major storyline has been Gilmer’s rapport with 5-star transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who arrived from Tennessee.
During summer player-run practices and into training camp, Gilmer became one of Iamaleava’s favorite targets, repeatedly hauling in touchdown passes in scrimmage situations.
New offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri’s uptempo system also seems like a better fit for his skill set, emphasizing quick reads and playmaking after the catch.
Kwazi Gilmer Ready To Breakout With UCLA Bruins
Gilmer is locked in as UCLA’s starting “X” receiver, a spot vacated by J. Michael Sturdivant’s departure. With Titus Mokiao-Atimalala on the opposite side and Cal transfer Mikey Matthews in the slot, Gilmer is expected to lead the group as the go-to option on the perimeter.
Depth exists behind him, but the staff has made it clear that Gilmer is one of the focal points of the offense heading into 2025. His connection with Iamaleava will be crucial, as UCLA quietly surrounded the transfer with a lot of offensive firepower this offseason.
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Gilmer appeared in all 12 games for the UCLA Bruins last season, starting seven. He finished with 31 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 11.1 yards per catch. His role grew as the year went on; he caught at least one pass in each of the final 10 games and started the last five.
His breakout came at Nebraska, where he posted 88 yards and a 48-yard touchdown that earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. By the finale against Fresno State, he was leading the team in receptions, a sign of the trust the staff had developed in him.
His trajectory mirrors players like Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, who turned a steady freshman season into a sophomore breakout, eventually leading to the NFL as a first-round selection.
For UCLA, which hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver in years, Gilmer represents their best chance in some time to field a true No. 1 threat. Their last 1,000-yard receiver was Jordan Lasley, who had 1,264 yards in 2017.
Gilmer is ready for a leap. His confidence matches the opportunity, and the signs from camp suggest he is ready to take on a starring role. If he translates the momentum into consistent game production, he could not only be the UCLA Bruins’ top receiver but also one of the breakout names in the Big Ten this season.
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