UCLA defensive backs adjusting to new faces in room

LOS ANGELES — UCLA's defensive backs room is one of the most experienced areas on the team but will also have plenty of new faces as this year's depth chart will only have Devin Kirkwood as a returning starter from last season.

Clint Stephens, Bryan Addison and Kaylin Moore have all seen action with the first team so far during fall camp.

Stephens has been with the Bruins over the last two years while Addison and Moore both came in as transfers.

Coach Deshaun Foster credited the defensive back room led by Brian Norwood and Kodi Whitfield. 

"They’re competing," Foster said. "As soon as we get (Jaylen Davies) back (from injury) I think they’ll be full strength and they’re just doing a good job right now.” 

After exiting Saturday's practice early, Foster noted that Davies should be ready to go before the season opener against Hawaii.

Norwood and Whitfield have been with the Bruins over the last four seasons in a variety of roles. This season, Norwood has taken a step back from coaching the entire secondary and will be coaching the safeties while Whitfield will be coaching cornerbacks.

"When I was coaching all the whole secondary, I was still doing it from a group effort," Norwood said. "One of the things at times was being able to split up the group was not only for the groups play and growth.

"That's good for myself, the safeties, coach Whitfield, the corners, but also just the young group we have now."

Moore spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Colorado and played last season at California ending his season with two pass deflections and 24 tackles. Addison spent the last five years playing for Oregon and played in just four games for the Ducks last seadson with 11 tackles and one interception.

In 2022, he played in 12 games and recorded 30 tackles with two interceptions.

Addison is local to the Los Angeles area, growing up in Gardena, Calif. as a UCLA football fan and played high school football at Junipero Serra.

"It's for sure a dream come true, without a doubt," Addison said. "This is one of those things that I sat back and thought about when I was a kid and just to see it come into full circle, it's cool."

In Saturday's practice, Addison saw a lot of playing time with the first team at safety and will likely be lining up next to Stephens.

Stephens has primarily served as a backup for the Bruins. Last year, he played in just one game and recorded two tackles in their week three 

Last season, Stephens saw limited playing time, primarily working as a backup. Appearing in just one game last year he had two tackles in their week three win 59-7 win over N.C. Central.

Davies and Kirkwood have been working opposite of another at cornerback with Kirkwood playing on the left side and Davies on the right.

While the Bruins secondary will be filled with new faces, Addison added that the chemistry among them is a "Group who want to get after it and attack people when we can."

"We have a real diverse DB room," he said. "We have a lot of people who joke around but we're real serious to what coach is talking about and what's going to be applied onto the field."