Foster Gives Injury Update on Key UCLA Safety

Key Lawrence's injury seems to be a thing of the past as he expects to return to camp this week.

Key Lawrence (12) is pictured at University of Oklahoma media day on OU campus in Norman on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Ou Media Day 2 | Nathan J Fish/The Oklahoman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Transfer UCLA safety Key Lawrence suffered an apparent right leg injury during the Bruins' fall camp in Costa Mesa on Saturday, but head coach DeShaun Foster assured he's going to be just fine.

"He's fine," Foster said during Wednesday's media availability. He then assured that Lawrence would be back out on the field soon.

Ben Bolch of the LA Times noted on Satureday that Lawrence had to be helped off the field and to the trainers' area to be looked at further. The season is still just a few weeks away, but Lawrence has emerged as one of UCLA's most important figures defensively.

DeShaun Foster indicated that safety Key Lawrence could return soon from his right leg injury, saying he’s “fine.”

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) August 13, 2025

Lawrence Turning Heads as Leader Early in Camp

Bruins defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe had high praise for the redshirt senior transfer in his media availability on Wednesday.

"In the secondary, Key Lawrence is doing a great job," Malloe said. "His leadership skills are stepping up and you can see it carry over to the field, as well as off the field. In the meeting rooms, he's taking a leadership role there, and [players] are holding separate meetings by themselves. They're really taking the initiative to grasp this scheme."

Sep 23, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Key Lawrence (12) reacts after intercepting the ball during the first half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

UCLA was one of the many football programs to undergo massive roster shakeup through the transfer portal over the offseason.

While the main goal is to bring in talent that improves team, the turnover and plethora of new faces could be difficult to navigate entering the season. In comes Lawrence, who immediately stepped into a leadership role among UCLA's secondary to be the conduit between new faces and new culture.

"That just comes with a lot of years under my belt, honestly," Lawrence said during fall camp on being a leader. "The people that we brought together, the knowledge that Coach Meat [Demetrice Martin] has, and the knowledge that coach Gabe Lynn has.

"It's a lot of things coming together and it's like Floyd Mayweather, he takes a lot from different people and they just mesh it all into one and make one masterpiece. And that's what we're trying to do right now."

Sure, he's a new face, but how did Lawrence go about becoming a leader in a packed secondary position group?

"Day by day," he said. "A wise man learns from other. One day, I might learn from a freshman, one day they pour into me and I might teach them something else. It doesn't matter. We're just all here trying to grind."

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