Landon Ellis described his decision to transfer as pretty straightforward.
After one year under Bob Chesney at James Madison University, the wide receiver was keen to follow his coach to UCLA.
“Why would I want to go anywhere else?” he remarked after practice on Thursday. “I know the staff’s capabilities, and it brings me so much joy to play for Coach Chesney and his team.”
Ellis was among ten players who made the move across the country, joining Chesney, offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy, defensive coordinator Colin Hitchler, and others.
He shared that playing for this coaching staff has been the most enjoyable period of his football career since he began playing soccer at the age of five. The competitive atmosphere and the energy the coaches bring to practice resonate with him.
Of course, having James Madison qualify for the College Football Playoff for the first time last season undoubtedly helped create a positive experience.
Ellis also felt an attraction to quarterback Niko Iamareaba, who expressed his desire to win during Ellis’s visit. Currently, both players share adjacent lockers at the practice facility.
“That made me comfortable coming here. I felt there was already a leader who could elevate this program,” Ellis said, reflecting on his previous performance of 36 receptions for 624 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Transitioning from Northern Virginia can be somewhat jarring—after all, there’s no Buc-ee’s or Bojangles out here. But, L.A. has its own perks.
“There’s a lot to see,” Ellis noted. “It took me a bit to adjust since there are so many celebrities around. Sometimes I feel a bit starstruck when I meet them, which is kind of cool. It’s a big change, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Here are a few takeaways from the Bruins’ seventh spring practice.
A little tattered
It seems social media teams might struggle to create thrilling highlights from the practice segments open to reporters.
The standout moment came from wide receiver Brian Rowe, who retrieved a tipped pass, kicked a defender, and dashed for over a 40-yard touchdown.
However, it was a challenging day for Iamareaba, who consistently threw behind his targets and had two passes intercepted by defensive lineman Aiden Gobaila and linebacker Scott Taylor. Meanwhile, defensive backs faced multiple pass interference calls.
“Another PI call?” running backs coach AJ Steward quipped from the sidelines. “I might have to call the police!”
Prime unit?
As Ellis assessed the offensive depth, he saw something intriguing.
“It’s like Amazon,” he observed. “We have everything we need.”
The offensive line is generating particular interest. Though it’s still early in spring practice—and some players are recovering from injuries—Thursday’s first-string line included J.D. Reiner at right tackle, Julian Almera at right guard, Riley Lovell at center, Eugene Brooks at left guard, and Mac Indestad at left tackle.
This line could change as left tackle Jordan Davis and center Sam Yun return from injury this spring.
Please discuss
Communication is vital to Chesney’s approach on the field.
During a practice focused on fair catches, he stressed the need for teammates to clearly announce their actions, telling linebacker Drew Spinogatti to “talk it out.”
When Spinogatti argued his point, Chesney replied, “Sure, but louder.”
The entire team had to do up-downs as a consequence for not responding to Chesney’s command.
“It’s like a lock-in for focus, something we’ve been working on since Coach Chesney arrived,” Ellis mentioned, “but we did hit a small dip there.”
This and that
The energy levels on the field have bounced back to normal after dipping a couple of days ago.
Defensive back Scooter Jackson missed practice again; Chesney previously mentioned he anticipated Jackson’s quick return, though the reasons for his absence remain unclear.
Kickers Mateen Bagani and Mateo Orozco both made three out of three field goals during the portion of practice open to the media.
Reporting an injury
Wide receiver Shane Rosenthal and defensive backs Aaron Williams, Rodrick Pleasant, and Malik Hartford were seen in black jerseys, indicating they’re returning from long-term injuries.
Meanwhile, defensive backs Zeke Johnson, CJ Lavender, and Josh Dixon were wearing non-contact yellow jerseys.
