Breaking Now: Recent UCLA Bruins commit exits the program and enters the transfer portal in tears
Another former UCLA Bruin has found a new home in the transfer portal.
UCLA has seen nearly 20 players enter the transfer portal this season, and many are beginning to finalize their new teams.
The latest player to make a move is former Bruin offensive tackle Niki Prongos, who was among the first from UCLA’s 2024 roster to enter the portal this month. According to several sources, Prongos has committed to Stanford.
Standing at 6 feet 7 inches and weighing 285 pounds, Prongos was one of the few highlights for the Bruins’ offensive line last season. He started in eight of his nine appearances before sustaining an injury during the game against Iowa, forcing him to miss the final three games of the season.
Prongos joined UCLA as a walk-on in 2022 and did not play in his first year, but he participated in one game during the 2023 season.
Rated as a three-star transfer by 247Sports, Prongos is ranked as the No. 22 interior offensive lineman in their transfer rankings.
His exit is a setback for the Bruins’ offense, which struggled with one of the weakest offensive line units in the Big Ten last season.
On a positive note, UCLA has secured commitments from two promising transfer offensive linemen, expected to strengthen the team’s previous weaknesses for 2024. However, the Bruins should continue to focus on improving this area.
“I like what we have [at offensive line], but you still want to add depth, just for competition,” said UCLA coach DeShaun Foster when he addressed the media on the Dec. 4 National Signing Day. “I just felt that our depth this season wasn’t where it needed to be. Some games, we would get tired in the second half. The LSU game, we got tired in the second half, we can’t put guys in. We needed more depth. So, I think that as long as we can get, potentially, some more guys in, yes, we want to do that, but I like what we have. I like the guys that are here right now that want to be Bruins.”
So far this offseason, UCLA has earned 11 transfer commitments.
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