The UCLA Bruins placed 29 players on opening day 53-man rosters for 2025, and the full list reads like a position-by-position report card on what the program is still producing:
| Player Name | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Jon Gaines II | OC/OG | Arizona Cardinals |
| Alec Anderson | OG | Buffalo Bills |
| Carl Jones | LB | Chicago Bears |
| Carson Schwesinger | LB | Cleveland Browns |
| Osa Odighizuwa | DT | Dallas Cowboys |
| Jay Toia | DT | Dallas Cowboys |
| Kenny Clark | DT | Green Bay Packers |
| Sean Rhyan | OG/OC | Green Bay Packers |
| Ka’imi Fairbairn | PK | Houston Texans |
| Conor McDermott | OT | Houston Texans |
| Laiatu Latu | DE | Indianapolis Colts |
| Andre James | OC | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Otito Ogbonnia | DT | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Quentin Lake | S | Los Angeles Rams |
| Darnay Holmes | CB | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Atonio Mafi | OG | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Kolton Miller | OT | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Matt Dickerson | DE | Miami Dolphins |
| Grayson Murphy | OLB | Miami Dolphins |
| Gabriel Murphy | OLB | Minnesota Vikings |
| Moliki Matavao | TE | New Orleans Saints |
| Darius Muasau | ILB | New York Giants |
| Jake Bobo | WR | Seattle Seahawks |
| Zach Charbonnet | RB | Seattle Seahawks |
| Jake Brendel | OC | San Francisco 49ers |
| Oluwafemi Oladejo | OLB | Tennessee Titans |
| Ale Kaho | LB | Washington Commanders |
| Kain Medrano | LB | Washington Commanders |
| Colson Yankoff | TE | Washington Commanders |
What stands out is the trench and versatility theme. The UCLA Bruins continue to pump out offensive line and interior defensive talent that NFL staffs trust on day one.
UCLA Bruins Continue Producing NFL-Ready Players
Veterans like Kenny Clark, Kolton Miller, Andre James, Jake Brendel, Conor McDermott, and Jon Gaines II give the list immediate credibility. Those are starters and swing guys who anchor lines, and their presence shows UCLA teaches pro-ready technique and consistent effort at the line of scrimmage.
A lot of Bruins ended up in Vegas and Washington, where former UCLA coaches Ken Norton Jr. and Chip Kelly are coaching.
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Beyond the vets, there is real youth and upside. Laiatu Latu, Darius Muasau, Quentin Lake, and Zach Charbonnet are recent contributors who translated college workload into NFL opportunity faster than most.
Most of the talent on this list has come into the NFL within the last 3 years, adding to the prestige of the somewhat struggling program. Jake Bobo is carving a clear role at receiver, and the tight end depth with Moliki Matavao and Colson Yankoff projects as situational value that can expand with the right scheme fit.
On defense, Osa Odighizuwa, Otito Ogbonnia, Jay Toia, Matt Dickerson, and the Murphy brothers provide rotation options up front that teams can plug into matchups right now.
Special teams continues to be a UCLA Bruins calling card, and it helps explain roster math. Ka’imi Fairbairn remaining as a veteran kicker is expected, and players like Darnay Holmes, Ale Kaho, and Oluwafemi Oladejo add immediate special teams reliability.
For a number of these players, early-season snaps on kick and punt units will be the fastest path to locking a roster spot and climbing into more meaningful defensive or offensive roles.
Unfortunately, several UCLA Bruins alumni missed the initial 53-man rosters. The Chiefs waived Carson Steele despite a 2024 role on offense and special teams, Dorian Thompson-Robinson was cut after limited action with the Browns and being traded to the Eagles, and the Giants released Greg Dulcich despite a strong preseason showing.
Alex Johnson landed on the Giants’ practice squad, Krys Barnes was cut by the Panthers and likely headed to waivers or a practice squad, the Bears waived Brittain Brown, and Kazmeir Allen and Raiqwon O’Neal are likely on practice squads with Washington and Tampa Bay, respectively.
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Veterans like Fabian Moreau, Qwuantrezz Knight, and Kyle Philips are currently without active roster spots and could still be claimed or signed.
Coaches can point to a deep list of linemen, interior defenders, and role players who made rosters and say, plainly, that the UCLA Bruins prepare players for the NFL in ways scouts value: versatility, technique, and special teams readiness.
Early season indicators to watch are snap share and special teams involvement, because those metrics will show which Bruins are mere roster depth and which ones are starting the long climb to consistent NFL roles.