James Madison Stars Set to Dominate UCLA Defense | UCLA Bruins Football News

Four standout defenders from James Madison are set to ignite UCLA’s defense in 2026, with edge rushers Aiden Gobaira and Samir West, nickelback DJ Barksdale, and linebacker Drew Spinogatti all expected to play key roles. These players helped James Madison’s elite defense last year, which allowed just 18.4 points and 266 yards per game — a stark contrast to UCLA’s leaky defense that surrendered over 33 points and nearly 400 yards per game. Barksdale, a two-time All-Sun Belt honoree with over 40 career starts, brings veteran leadership, while Gobaira and West — the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year — form a fearsome pass-rushing duo. With UCLA’s defense in dire need of upgrades, this transfer class could be the game-changer the Bruins have been waiting for. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/700cd38554ea974b