2 Bold Predictions for Wayne Knight's 2026 UCLA Season

Wayne Knight is easily the best player that UCLA has gotten during this transfer portal cycle and has a serious chance to make UCLA winner's year one under Bob Chesney.

Here at SI, we knew that getting Wayne Knight in the transfer portal would be groundbreaking for the Bruins. After a terrible season rushing-wise, the Bruins needed a player of Knight's caliber to elevate the team; this could be easier said than done.

Exploring 2026 Expectations

The Bruins' running back room last season combined for an abysmal 1,171 rushing yards. As an individual, the Bruins would have ranked 18th in the nation in rushing. Compared to Wayne Knight's 1,373 rushing yards last season, it is clear the Bruins have solved their rushing issues.

With Dean Kennedy joining Bob Chesney next season, Knight is set to become the cornerstone of the Bruins’ offense. His rushing ability gives UCLA a true tempo-controller in the backfield while forcing defenses to respect the play-action game downfield. Something UCLA needed last season.

If it isn't clear already, Knight will be a game-changer for the Bruins next season. But said earlier, this is much easier said than done. Knight will be playing snaps in the Big Ten, a completely different world compared to the Sun-Belt. However, it is clear that with the limited sample size, the production should stay the same.

In his final game of the season against No. 5 Oregon, Knight would rush the ball 17 times for a whopping 110 yards. Oregon has been known for its punishing run defense all season, and for Knight to walk up and deliver that performance, next year could be even better for him statistically.

2026 Prediction

There are several factors that often contribute to a down year after a season of Knight’s caliber. However, at UCLA, he has already avoided many of those pitfalls. As mentioned earlier, Knight will be reunited with his offensive coordinator, Dean Kennedy, from James Madison.

This just means that Knight's touches should not see a significant decrease. This is exciting for Bruins fans because as soon as he set foot in Westwood, he has already become the most explosive playmaker on the roster.

Overall, we will see a slight decrease in production, not because of him, but due to the diversity of the play calling we could expect next year. UCLA has retained Nico Iamaleava, along with a few notable receiving threats that could elevate the passing game significantly next season.

Next season his stats could break down like this: 175 carries for 1,159, on 6.6 yards per carry. Knight should see an increase in touchdowns with 12 on the season. This level of production should be enough to make UCLA a formidable opponent.

Dec 9, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Bob Chesney is introduced as UCLA Bruins football coach at press conference at Renee Luskin Conference Center Centennial Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Knight was a massive addition for the Bruins; anything under 1,000 yards would be considered a bad season for him, not bad expectations to say the least. Now it is time for the Bruins to build around him, as it can be inferred that he will be a massive part of the offense.

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI to keep up with every story surrounding UCLA athletics! Please let us know your thoughts on this when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Never again miss one major story related to your beloved Bruins when you sign up for our 100% FREE newsletter that comes straight to your email with the latest news. SIGN UP HERE NOW