How Bob Chesney Built UCLA's Roster the Cignetti Way — SkimNews
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- Bob Chesney was hired at UCLA and imported roughly a dozen former James Madison players, with about half already emerging as significant contributors through four games.
- UCLA retained five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava (transfer from Tennessee), holding a 24th-place ranking in the 2026 247Sports Talent Composite — compared to Indiana's 72nd when Cignetti arrived in Bloomington.
- Wayne Knight, a JMU transfer running back, is averaging 9.08 yards per carry on the season and currently has more rushing touchdowns than 30 Power Four teams, after being talked into following Chesney to LA from a JMU team he'd been estranged from.
- Omosigho, a linebacker the source says was 'lost in the shuffle' at Oklahoma, has recorded 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks — emerging as one of the nation's best at his position.
- Safety James has three interceptions this season — only one player in the country has more — anchoring a secondary that faces its biggest test yet against Oregon's offense.
- The JMU import includes two interior offensive linemen, Sweazie (a 6-foot-1 guard) and Robell, who help power one of the nation's most efficient run games alongside other Group of Six players identified by UCLA's personnel staff.
Why it matters: Chesney's UCLA roster mirrors the JMU-to-Big Ten pipeline that powered Cignetti at Indiana, with about a dozen former Dukes and running back Wayne Knight already averaging 9.08 yards per carry. The Oregon matchup provides a first serious stress test for a team built on the same blueprint that produced a national title in Bloomington.
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