Out of all the over 40 transfers that Bob Chesney brought in for the UCLA Bruins, few will have as much of an impact on the 2026 team as running back Wayne Knight. Knight, like many of the transfers, comes from James Madison alongside Chesney.
Since joining the Big Ten, UCLA has struggled mightily to run the ball. While a quality running back won’t change that by himself, the Bruins addressed the offensive line in the portal, leading to an expectation that UCLA should be better on the ground this season.
A backfield of Knight and quarterback Nico Iamaleava is a very talented group. Iamaleava set a new career high in rushing yards with 505 yards while Knight put up a Sun Belt Conference-leading 1,373 yards. Both of those numbers will likely drop in 2026 but that doesn’t mean it’ll be less effective in 2026.
Iamaleava was running for his life behind a shaky Bruin offensive line and Knight topping 1,300 yards for a second-straight season is a tall task. Knight spoke with the Big Ten Network about taking the backfield with Iamaleava.
“It’s been great. He’s a student of the game. He understands everything. He processes very fast,” Knight said. “Just being able to get us into the right looks, and the right situations almost every single time. It’s a blessing just being able to be by his side.”
After finishing in the bottom half of the Big Ten Conference in rushing yards in the team’s first two seasons in the conference, perhaps the UCLA Bruins, led by Knight and Iamaleava, can crack the top-half in 2026.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Wayne Knight calls his new quarterback Nico Iamaleava ‘a blessing’
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire | USA TODAY Network
