Bob Chesney, who doesn’t divulge much about scheme specifics, nearly slipped.
Given the topic, the new UCLA football coach couldn’t help himself.
He’s just so excited about Wayne Knight, the tiny running back who’s followed him on this cross-country journey from James Madison.
“He looks unbelievable, Chesney said Tuesday before venturing into what, for him, qualifies as dangerous territory.
“Today, he did … there’s a couple things that he did – I don’t want to name the plays and the moments,” the coach continued, finally catching himself, “I was about to do that – but ultimately he’s done a really great job.”
Reporters who ventured to Great Park in Irvine were asked not to report on the team periods, meaning there was nothing they could add to Chesney’s description of the 5-foot-7 running back who has been an early standout in training camp.
After being limited in spring practices with an undisclosed injury, Knight has quickly recaptured top form in his bid to become the team’s top ballcarrier in a spirited battle with returners Jaivian Thomas and Anthony Woods.
“He’s explosive, he’s just hard to put a pad on,” Chesney said of Knight. “He gets his pad level down, he sees it really, really clean. Then, he’s a threat out of the backfield and he does a great job in the protection game. So, you know, he’s complete.
“A lot of those guys are, though, too, so it’s one of those things that that’s not a group we’re feeling like we don’t have any depth in.”
The running backs should benefit from a fortified offensive line that Chesney said “did an unbelievable job” of picking up third-down blitzes Tuesday while also being “phenomenal” in opening holes for the interior run game.
Before the Bruins left campus for their four practice sessions in Orange County, Knight showed both the patience and tremendous burst that made him a second-team All-American in 2025 with 2,039 all-purpose yards for a team that reached the College Football Playoff.
Of course, when you’re as small as Knight, you don’t need much room.
Celebrity advisor
A new quarterback whisperer stood on the edge of the practice field, intently watching Nico Iamaleava and the other players throwing passes.
It was Derek Carr, the former Pro Bowl quarterback who offered to assist the offense as a new special advisor to Chesney.
“When Derek Carr asks to help out,” Chesney said, “the answer is yes.”
The Bruins’ practice in Irvine was just a short drive from Carr’s Newport Beach residence. With a newborn child and a couple of other young kids, Carr won’t be at every practice but is expected to give input on the offense while also advising the staff and players.
He’ll also be on the sideline at games.
Having spent 11 seasons in the NFL and four more at Fresno State will allow Carr to provide special insight to quarterbacks still learning the game.
“It’s this ability to communicate with a quarterback in real time in hostile environments is what he brings to it,” Chesney said of Carr, “and then the pressure that you feel back there as a quarterback, I think, is pretty awesome to hear another guy’s perspective that’s done it a very long time at the highest level.
“So as he speaks, we’re certainly listening to what he says he sees or what he thinks the quarterback sees and those are just things that, you know, we’re going to go through the playbook and talk about where we want his eyes, where we want his feet, everything we want to do within the scheme, but then this there’s this little piece of, ‘I know exactly what this feels like at this moment’ and that’s something valuable.”
Getting to know you
After holding back-to-back practices in the Orange County heat, it’s time to chill.
Chesney said his team would have a beach day Wednesday with a cookout sponsored by Newport Rib Company before returning to its hotel to hang out by the pool and in the game room.
Future bonding plans include having players talk about their “why” in addition to big brother and alumni mentorship programs.
“Just continually trying to interweave this thing and make it a program and a family,” Chesney said, “which is what the best ones do.”
Injury updates
Chesney said Jordan Davis, a leading contender to start at left tackle, was dealing with a dehydration issue that sidelined him Tuesday. It’s not considered a long-term problem.
Wide receiver Aidan Mizell and center Riley Robell were sidelined with minor injuries that are not expected to keep them out long.
