RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Two of UCLA's senior transfers, defensive back Malik Hartford and linebacker Ryan McCulloch, were named to the 2026 Comeback Player of Year Award watch list, according to a press release by the Bruins on Thursday.
College Sport Communicators, The Associated Press and the Fiesta Sports Foundation released the list of 94-players that were named to the watch list and at the end of the season, three of them will be selected to win the award. The Bruins two defensive players named to the list will have a chance to become the first winner since Laiatu Latu did in 2022 after he missed two seasons due to injury.
Here's a little bit about the two possible future Comeback Players of the Year.
Hartford was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and played in 27 games over his first three years of college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The 6-foot-2 defensive back started just two games, but played in nine games during his freshman season and 14 games as a sophomore before he was redshirted after playing in the first four games of the 2025 season. During his time with the Buckeyes, he won a National Championship in 2024 and has a career total of 20 tackles and three pass breakups.
Similarly, McCulloch stands at 6-foot-2 and the Arcadia, Calif. native saw game action in 26 games for the California Golden Bears in his first three years of college football.
The outside linebacker started 10 games for the Golden Bears (six during the 2024 season and four last season). Over the entirety of his career for California he notched 39 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups.
Both Hartford and McCulloch will have an opportunity to win the award after suffering injuries during their 2025 campaigns. The Bruins will begin the season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at McCulloch's old stadium in Berkeley, Calif. to play California at California Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Two UCLA transfers named to Comeback Player of the Year watch list
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