New head coach Bob Chesney has completely changed this roster to put the program in a better position to win next year.
One of the positions that needed a complete rework was wide receiver, as no receiver had over 550 receiving yards last year. Kwazi Gilmer had 535 yards and 50 receptions in his sophomore year and would have been the number one receiver next year, but he decided to enter the portal and went to Nebraska .
May 2, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins coach Bob Chesney reacts during the spring game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Bob Chesney needed to go into the portal and find players who would be good for the Bruins for next year and for the future. For this upcoming season, Chesney was able to bring in two guys through the transfer portal, Leland Smith and Landon Ellis , who are both experienced and talented enough to be the number one option on the outside for the Bruins.
Nov 1, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose State Spartans wide receiver Leland Smith (1) runs for the first down after the catch against Hawaii Rainbow Wahine defensive back Devyn King (24) during the third quarter at CEFCU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images | Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
Coming out of high school in the 2022 class, Smith took the JUCO route, attending Fullerton College as a freshman. At Fullerton, he would have a great season: in nine games, he would lead the Hornets in receiving yards with 655 and 72.8 yards per game, and in touchdowns with just 26 receptions.
After his freshman year at Fullerton, he would transfer to Purdue , but wouldn't have the same level of production there. For a Purdue team that went 1-11, Smith would have just six receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
Nov 1, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose State Spartans wide receiver Leland Smith (1) runs for a first down against Hawaii Rainbow Wahine defensive back Elijah Palmer (4) during the fourth quarter at CEFCU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images | Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
Smith would then enter the transfer portal, end up at San Jose State for his junior year, and have a bounce-back season. With the Spartans, he would be the wide receiver with 43 receptions, 688 yards, and three touchdowns.
Overall, as he enters his senior season, Smith is a deep-ball threat, having multiple games last year with 35-yard receptions and two with 40-yard receptions. He should be a great player along the outside as he will give Nico Iamaleava a big-time threat to throw the ball deep.
Dec 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; James Madison Dukes wide receiver Landon Ellis (13) runs after making a catch as Oregon Ducks defensive back Theran Johnson (5) defends during the second quarter at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Ellis spent his first two seasons of college football at the University of Richmond, where he would have a decent year as a freshman with 20 receptions for 214 yards and one touchdown, but would break out as a sophomore, doubling his receptions with 40, as well as having 588 yards and four touchdowns.
Ellis would then land at James Madison and play under Bob Chesney, where he would have an even better statistical season with 36 receptions, a team-high 624 yards, and five touchdowns.
Dec 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; James Madison Dukes wide receiver Landon Ellis (13) runs after making a catch during the first quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
Now that Bob Chesney has taken the UCLA job, it wasn't long before Ellis followed his coach to Westwood, as he already knows the system and thrived under Chesney's offense. Ellis is a player who can do everything on the field. He can run deep routes, is a good route runner, can line up in the slot, is good after the catch, and is a decent red zone threat.
With both Ellis and Smith along the outside, UCLA might have two number-one receiving options for Iamaleava, rather than a number-one and a number-two receiving option.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/ucla as UCLA Football Could Have Two Legit WR1 Options .
