UCLA Football: Fresh Faces in Defense

UCLAs football program is gearing up for summer workouts, with Coach Bob Chesney making a noticeable impact. The teams defense, a weak spot last season, is a focus, especially with the 2026 recruiting class. Three freshmen, CJ Lavender, Malaki Soliai-Tui, and Marcus Almada, are expected to make a real difference right away. Lavender, a cornerback, is versatile and expected to start as a nickel cornerback. Soliai-Tui, a linebacker, shows surprising coverage skills and could contribute early. Almada, an interior defensive lineman, brings quickness and power, adding much-needed depth to the defensive line rotation. Support the show:Get a discount at https://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/2172b5c7eba1bdf1