The world was dark, and then lights flickered to life in the Wasserman Football Center.
DeShaun Foster sprinted into the room for his press conference. From the windows to the walls, the earth shook. The podium rocked, the tape recorders hummed. If Foster was carrying a pigskin, he could still stiff-arm any adversary into the Rose Bowl dirt of ignominy.
The head coach of the UCLA football team, who excelled at running back for Tustin High, UCLA and the Carolina Panthers, is still a running back at heart – but he’s determined to keep the literal and proverbial pigskin rumbling closer to the end zone.
A good foundation for the Bruins starts with what’s literally under their feet.
The team will install a new grass practice field this offseason. The new field will be ready before the start of the regular season, Foster said during Thursday’s media session. The Bruins currently practice on artificial turf.
“It’s time to upgrade,” Foster said. “We’re going to have grass out here. That’ll be done when we come back from training camp. We have turf, we need grass. We play on grass. I don’t like (practicing) on surfaces that we’re not playing on that week.”
The skipper then delivered his second big news item of the day: UCLA will spend fall camp off campus.
“We’ll be offsite for fall camp,” he said. “It’s not somewhere we’ve been before.”
The location and dates have not been determined for the fall session.
Foster said he wants his players to bond at training camp.
“I relate it to pro ball and how we come together. Training camp is the time when the team comes together. Being offsite helps. It helps the camaraderie. It helps guys lock in. You become friends and befriend guys you normally wouldn’t talk to or be around,” the coach said. “I visualize training camp offsite, guys coming together, then we come back and take on the world.”
Coach commends his staff
With the spring session winding down, Foster took time to praise his assistant coaches.
“I like the way Andy (Kwon) has commanded the O-line, just the way that they’re playing for him and coming together and getting different lineups and putting people in different positions just to see what they can do. Coach (Demetrice Martin) is doing a good job in the secondary getting guys ready because they’re all new. Same as Gabe (Lynn) also with the safeties,” Foster said. “Everybody this spring is doing a pretty good job. … I think all our coaches are doing a good job, coaching new guys, getting them ready to play and having them embody our pillars.”
Kwon, who arrived after three seasons as the offensive line coach at Arkansas State, worked alongside offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri at Alabama.
Foster made it a priority to bring Kwon to Westwood.
“He’s a sharp guy. He played center, had a shot at the NFL. Once you interview him, ‘OK, I like his knowledge. I like his energy,’” Foster said. “I thought he’d be a good guy to bring in here, help us recruit and get this O-line to where we want it to be.”
Building a strong offensive line
Football is a perpetual work in progress, but the offensive line’s maturation has been significant development during UCLA’s spring camp.
“We got bigger up front like we wanted to. We added depth,” Foster said. “Guys are competing. There’s going to be competition in all five spots. Garrett (DiGiorgio) has a significant role and spot, but he’s still competing. You have to compete if you want to be an elite football player.”
The Bruins will want to add two more offensive linemen to the roster before fall camp opens.
DiGiorgio, an honor roll student from Serrano High, is a three-year starter at right tackle. He’s started 38 of 39 games in a UCLA uniform.
The coach praised the offensive line veteran.
“I like his versatility. I was able to move Garrett to guard and get somebody else reps at tackle. I was able to get Reuben (Unije) some reps at right tackle,” the coach said. “We want to build our best five.”
Portal vs. preps
Experience matters in college football.
Foster said he prefers to recruit seasoned football players as opposed to youngsters straight from high school.
“Portal guys are different. You actually get a body of work; you don’t have to project as much. A high school kid, you’re still projecting,” the coach said. “For the portal kids, it’s kind of easy because you can actually see them playing. That’s why we like portal guys who have reps and have actually contributed.”
The Bruin empathized with the modern high school athlete.
“It’s just a tough road. I would hate to be a high school kid right now just in this new world of college sports, or any sport. It just hurts that you can get an older guy. It’s an unfortunate situation,” Foster said.
What’s next for the Bruins?
Thursday’s walk-through session was not open to the media.
Spring camp concludes Saturday with a practice open to the public at the Rose Bowl.
The Bruins will stay busy on the 2026 recruiting trail this summer before fall camp kicks off in late July or early August.
“It’s going to be hectic,” Foster said. “Coaches are going to be on the road. You gotta like this. This is when we finally get our hand on the ’26 class and show them what we have to offer. If you pick us, you have a great opportunity to play at the next level.”
For the players, the summer is not a time to lollygag.
“Let’s not lose what we’ve built,” Foster said.
A moment later, the press conference ended.
The coach bolted out of the room nearly as fast as he had arrived. The lights flickered off. It was dark again.
Taking over the world will have to wait.
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