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The frantic scramble to scoop up former college players that have been granted an extra year of eligibility has become the talk of the sport despite kickoff looming next weekend.
And while debates rage about the morals, logistics and final outcome of this endeavor, some programs are choosing to take a risk and see if they can benefit from a late addition.
For Bob Chesney and UCLA, taking that chance makes even more sense when it’s a player you’re familiar with, as former James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick committed to join his former coach with the Bruins.
Following a standout career with the Dukes, Hendrick attended recent NFL minicamps with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns, but he did not appear in preseason action.
Over four seasons with JMU, Hendrick tallied 210 total tackles, 6 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 5 pass breakups.
The veteran linebacker led the Dukes in tackles last fall (106), a feat that helped earn him the Sun Belt’s Defensive Player of the Year honor.
UCLA will open its 2026 campaign in just under two weeks, giving Hendrick little time to get familiar with the UCLA program. Of course, the defensive scheme and coaching staff will be largely familiar to him.
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Parker is currently the sports editor for Gulf Coast Media in Foley, Alabama. He's a graduate from Mizzou who has experience covering the Tiger football and basketball beats for SB Nation, and he's worked for a variety of sports news outlets in the past.