The NFL Draft concluded on Sunday and throughout the seven rounds and 257 total draft picks, the UCLA Bruins did not have a single player chosen. It’s the first time since 2012 that UCLA didn’t see a player get drafted.
It’s a big reflection of where the Bruins football program was in 2025, going just 3-9 with several beatdowns and embarrassing showings throughout the season. Heading into this year’s draft, it was clear that UCLA wasn’t going to see many players get selected but a seventh round pick seemed quite possible.
Defensive tackle Gary Smith III, offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio and even former Bruin wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant all were viewed as potential seventh round options, but all three players went undrafted this weekend. Even without getting taken, it’s likely that they’ll land with a team as undrafted free agents.
The 2024 UCLA football team wasn’t all that competitive, but the group still saw five Bruins get drafted in last year’s draft, including Carson Schwesinger getting taken No. 33 overall. UCLA has had multiple players go in every other draft class this decade.
While UCLA didn’t have any players taken in 2012, the Bruins saw four players go in 2013, including first round pick Datone Jones. UCLA was coming off of a 6-8 season in 2011, where head coach Rick Neuheisel was fired a few days after losing 50-0 to USC.
Between the 40 transfers UCLA brought in this offseason and the potential of Nico Iamaleava at quarterback, it seems that the Bruins are likely going to be a bit more draft-relevent in the 2027 NFL Draft.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA football has zero players drafted for the first time since 2012
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
