Cole Martin is a player that will play very well under Bob Chesney in 2026

Cole Martin was a surprise return to the UCLA defensive backfield this offseason. With his father Demetrice leaving for Arizona State. It was rumored that Cole was going to leave. As the main reason he came to UCLA was because of his father. Initially Cole entered the transfer portal, but decided to remove his name and return to UCLA under Bob Chesney. This was a huge development for UCLA as he was one of their best defensive backs.

Cole plays, very smart football and pairs with Rodrick Pleasant and Scooter Jackson as other defensive backs to return to the Bruins. This is a huge boost for the team, and they should only get better under Chesney and Colin Hitschler. Martin slots right back in as a starter at the strong safety position and is a very sound tackler. Last season he had 65 tackles and one interception.

The UCLA defense is completely overhauled and for good reason. This is a team that only had 10 sacks and four interceptions as a team last season. Those two were some of the worst marks in college football. Now, with a completely retooled defense, it will only be a positive for the defensive backs. There should be opportunities for more interceptions as the defense will create a better rush rate and generate sacks. That will force quarterbacks into rushed throws.

Martin is a veteran player that will help UCLA. He will pay with another great safety in Tao Johnson who came over from Utah. They will both provide good hitting at the secondary level and good instincts to make plays on the ball. They will also be put in better positions to make plays. With a better front seven in front of them, the sky is the ceiling for the defensive backs. Martin returning provides good stability for this team and he is a great player to help lead the Bruins team into a new era.