UCLA has drastically remade its secondary through the transfer portal this month. On Wednesday, the Bruins landed an eighth transfer pledge from a defensive back when former Miami corner Robert Stafford announced his commitment to UCLA.

Stafford spent 2 seasons in Coral Gables, redshirting in 2023 as a true freshman. He’ll arrive in Los Angeles with 3 seasons of eligibility remaining.

A 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back, Stafford signed with Miami as a 4-star recruit out of the 2023 class. He was a top-150 prospect in the industry-generated 247 Composite, and ranked as 1 of the 20 best cornerbacks in his class. Stafford played his prep ball at Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie.

He played in just 1 game as a true freshman in 2023 but didn’t register a statistic. In 2024, he made 12 appearances as a reserve defender and finished with 7 tackles and a pass breakup. The bulk of his snaps this season came on special teams. He saw limited action on defense in 5 games.

Stafford also considered South Florida, Georgia Tech, and Maryland. With the Bruins, he’ll compete for a spot in Demetrice Martin’s new secondary next season but he’ll have some serious competition.

Including Stafford, UCLA has 12 defensive backs to the roster via the 2025 class — 4 high school signees and 8 transfers. Stafford joins Utah Tech’s Scooter Jackson, Arizona State’s Cole Martin, Louisville’s Aaron Williams and Benjamin Perry, Mississippi’s Key Lawrence, Central Florida’s Bryon Threats, and Oregon State’s Andre Jordan Jr.

UCLA saw 6 defensive backs play more than 100 snaps during the 2024 campaign. All of them need to be replaced in 2025. Both corner spots, both safety spots, and the starting nickel position will be up for grabs heading into the new year.