With players such as Jackie Robinson, DeShaun Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew, Jonathan Franklin and Zach Charbonnet all calling Westwood home, the Bruins have long been touted as a producer of elite running backs.
However, after UCLA finished back-to-back seasons near the bottom of the Big Ten in rushing, new head coach Bob Chesney has utilized the transfer portal to rebuild the bruising Bruin backfield once synonymous with UCLA football.
UCLA recruited two dynamic ball carriers to Westwood for the 2026 campaign to work with running backs coach AJ Steward. Chesney has also made it clear that opposing squads should once again expect an effective run game from the Bruins.
Wayne Knight
Previous School: James Madison
After UCLA’s leading running back averaged 30 rushing yards per game in 2025, the commitment of tailback Wayne Knight is a critical addition for the Bruins’ backfield. Knight followed his former head coach and Dean Kennedy, his former offensive coordinator, to Westwood after four seasons at James Madison.
The second-team All-American enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Dukes in 2025, recording 2,039 all-purpose yards – a single-season JMU record – alongside 10 touchdowns.
Knight’s average of 145.6 all-purpose yards per game ranked as the third-highest figure in the country, while his 6.63 yards per carry placed him seventh nationally.
Despite standing at 5-foot-7, Knight’s bruising run style allows him to excel through contact, while his breakaway speed enables him to separate effectively at the second level. These traits were on display against Troy in the Sun Belt championship, when Knight recorded 212 ground yards on 21 carries.
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Knight does a good job of keeping his legs moving when he’s met at the line of scrimmage in the first clip of the Trojans, breaking four tackles en route to the end zone.
Knight’s versatility also opens up possibilities for him to play a key role in the pass game, either as a check down option or as a schemed target on certain concepts. Kennedy can send him on wheel or swing routes, both of which should give him ample separation from defenders, making Knight difficult to tackle in space and increasing the chances of an explosive play.
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This clip against Washington State demonstrates Knight’s potential for breakaway speed. Following an effective block up front, Knight separates from the second level into the open field, dashing for a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown that propelled JMU to victory.
Despite four years at the Group of Four level, Knight has proven capable against Big Ten competition, averaging 6.5 yards per carry against Oregon in the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff.
Running behind a rebuilt UCLA offensive line in a familiar scheme under Kennedy, Knight should continue his high level of production from the year before.
Dylan Lee
Former School: Iowa State
Redshirt sophomore Dylan Lee represents a high-ceiling prospect and will suit up for UCLA after two seasons at Iowa State.
The former three-star recruit from Gilbert, Arizona, appeared in 13 games across his two years in Ames, logging 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The majority of his game time for the Cyclones came in 2025, where he appeared in 11 games after redshirting in 2024.
Lee’s most productive contest came in Iowa State’s 55-7 victory over South Dakota, a game in which he tallied a career-high 13 carries for 83 yards alongside a touchdown.
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Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 215 pounds, Lee has the physical characteristics of a Big Ten running back, with his running style mirroring his bigger build. Lee does a good job of following his lead blocker before hitting the crease for a nice gain, which is demonstrated in the first run of this clip.
The next play sees Lee punctuate the same drive with a short touchdown run, punching in the score from eight yards out.
Likely to occupy a rotational role for the Bruins in 2026, Lee’s size should allow him to see the field in a variety of personnel groupings, including as a lead blocker from the backfield or as a short-yardage back in the red zone.
Lee possesses three years of eligibility and a high physical ceiling and could very well be in the mix for the starting running back position for as long as he stays in Westwood.
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