Add The California Post on Google Less than two weeks before its season opener, UCLA has made a major addition to its defense.
The Bruins on Sunday reportedly received a commitment from middle linebacker Trent Hendrick, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year who recently received an additional season of eligibility as part of a court ruling.
Hendrick was one of 16 football players granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA by a Louisiana judge, giving him a fifth year to play.
Trent Hendrick, UCLA’s newest middle linebacker, is one who is very familiar to coach Bob Chesney after having starred for him at James Madison. @trenthen5/Instagram After leaving James Madison, Hendrick had participated in NFL minicamps with the Chiefs and Browns. A proven star who made 106 tackles — including seven for loss and three sacks — forced two fumbles and broke up three passes in 2025, Hendrick should immediately fortify the middle of the Bruins’ defense.
Hendrick’s returning to college after practicing with professional teams further illustrates the instability of college athletics, which are seeing more unfettered player movement than their pro counterparts. Pro sports have defined trade windows and free agency periods as a result of collective bargaining, controlling player movement in a way that is not subject to the whims of judges who have repeatedly wiped out NCAA restrictions.
One question is how his arrival will impact Sammy Omosigho and the other linebackers who were starting to solidify roles as UCLA barrels toward its season opener at California on Sept. 5.
Adding intrigue to that showdown of former Pac-12 rivals, Cal had reportedly been one of the teams — along with Virginia Tech — that Hendrick was seriously considering before picking the Bruins.
UCLA linebacker Sammy Omosigho will now play alongside Trent Hendrick after Hendrick committed to the Bruins on Sunday. Getty Images UCLA coach Bob Chesney had seemed to allude to Hendrick earlier this month when asked about the possibility of adding to his roster in the wake of court rulings awarding additional eligibility.
“There’s like one guy that’s clean as can be to be able to come back,” Chesney said without naming the player. “Everybody else has issues with agents and camps and, you know, all the things that came into it. So, you know, we’ll see how it all plays out. I know that some teams are benefiting from it.”
The Bruins can count themselves among that group after adding a defensive stalwart who helped Chesney’s last team reach the College Football Playoff. Hendrick becomes the 11th former James Madison player to join Chesney and his staff in Westwood.
