The 2024 season didn’t go as UCLA fans had hoped in the Bruins first year in the Big Ten, as they finished with their worst record since 2019. However, despite the disappointing team performance, several UCLA players have positioned themselves as 2025 NFL Draft prospects.
This year’s class features multiple breakout players, including linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who entered the season as an unknown but has now emerged as a likely second-round selection. In total, four Bruins earned draftable grades on my board.
2025 UCLA NFL Draft prospects
Carson Schwesinger, 6-3 242, MLB
NFL Draft Grade: 2nd round
UCLA’s top draft prospect this year is linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who had a true breakout season. After recording just 27 total tackles over his first two years with the Bruins, he led the FBS this season with 90 solo tackles. His greatest strength as a prospect is his instincts as he excels at quickly diagnosing running plays and displays strong awareness in coverage. If he can post an impressive 40-yard dash time, he has a solid chance of being selected in the second round.
Oluwafemi Oladejo, 6-3 250, DE
NFL Draft Grade: 6th round
Another player who saw his stock rise this year is Oluwafemi Oladejo, who transitioned from linebacker to edge defender. While I have him graded as a sixth-round prospect due to his lack of explosiveness off the ball and limited agility, The Draft Network has projected him to the Baltimore Ravens at the 27th overall pick. A strong performance at his pro day could solidify his status as a Day 2 selection.
Kain Medrano, 6-3 222, LB
NFL Draft Grade: 6th round
Kain Medrano turned heads at the NFL Combine by posting the fastest 40-yard dash time among linebackers at 4.46 seconds. He effectively utilized this speed throughout his college career, excelling in coverage. A former defensive back from Pueblo East, Medrano consistently matched up with Big Ten tight ends and recorded two interceptions this season. His athleticism, combined with his explosive speed, should make him a valuable asset on special teams at the next level. However, to maximize his impact, he’ll need to improve his tackling consistency after missing 26% of his attempts last year.
Kain Medrano is a LB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.80 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 58 out of 2911 LB from 1987 to 2025.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 12, 2025
Pro day pending for remaining tests.https://t.co/yJ0ZjdOtFz pic.twitter.com/WXSSDdGrGc
Moliki Matavao, 6-6 263, TE
NFL Draft Grade: 7th round
The Bruins' top offensive prospect this year is tight end Moliki Matavao, who posted a career-high 41 receptions this season. One of his standout traits is his ideal size—6-foot-6, 263 pounds—which gives him the potential to thrive as an in-line tight end at the next level, especially if he refines his blocking technique. He also possesses reliable hands, having dropped just one pass all season and impressing scouts with this skill at the Senior Bowl.