UCLA began the offseason this past weekend following the Bruins’ season-ending loss to USC. While the Bruins have added head coach Bob Chesney from James Madison, UCLA is bracing for portal departures.
Players heading to the portal is a side effect of a head coaching change, so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see players leave, especially after they had to endure a 3-9 season with the Bruins this year. After Monday’s announcement of Bob Chesney becoming UCLA’s next head coach, UCLA has seen multiple defensive backs hit the portal, with three mainstays of the secondary entering the transfer portal.
Defensive back: Scooter Jackson
Scooter Jackson entered the portal on Monday. Jackson is a Southern California native, growing up in Compton, and has just wrapped up his first season with the Bruins. Jackson collected two interceptions, three passes defensed and made 44 total tackles for UCLA in 2025.
Jackson has only one year of eligibility remaining, beginning his college career with Utah Tech for two seasons. Jackson served as a quality nickelback for Kevin Coyle’s defense, possessing the ball skills in pass defense and showing toughness to be a factor on run defense as well. The 6’1” Jackson could be leaving Southern California and he’ll also be walking away from his relative’s alma mater, as Jackson is related to former UCLA safety Jaleel Wadood, who played for the Bruins from 2014-2017.
Defensive back: Andre Jordan Jr.
Much like Jackson, Andre Jordan Jr. will be leaving the UCLA program after just one season with the Bruins. Jordan served as UCLA’s starting cornerback for eight games this season and earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Jordan’s 10 passes defensed was tied for the regular season lead in the Big Ten.
Jordan transferred to UCLA after spending two seasons with Oregon State and will have one more season of elgibilty remaining after entering the portal on Tuesday.
Defensive back: Cole Martin
Cole Martin returns to the transfer portal after spending one season with UCLA. Martin was an Oregon Duck his freshman year, an Arizona State Sun Devil as a sophomore and then a UCLA Bruin as a junior. Martin started in all 12 games for UCLA, making 65 tackles as a Bruin safety.
Martin had one interception with the Bruins, coming against Washington. Martin is a Pasadena native, who rooted for UCLA growing up but will head to the portal ahead of his senior season. Unlike Jackson and Jordan, Martin has two years of elgibilty after redshirting with Arizona State.
Martin’s entrance to the portal on Tuesday seems like a sign that his father, Demetrice Martin, UCLA’s secondary coach will not stay with the program under Chesney.
Defensive back: Larue Zamorano
This is a late add which now makes four members of the secondary to depart in the portal. Stay with this tracker for continuing additions as they come in.
Bob Chesney bringing in James Madison players
Curt Cignetti lifted Indiana with a lot of James Madison transfers. The expectation is that Bob Chesney will do the same.
Trenches a priority
UCLA’s offensive line got overwhelmed by good Big Ten teams late in the 2025 season. Bob Chesney will need to beef up the offensive front in the transfer portal. Stay with UCLA Wire for more transfer portal updates as they emerge.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Transfer Portal Tracker: UCLA defensive back depth takes a hit
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
