Trent Hendrick transfers to UCLA: Ex-James Madison star LB gets fifth year after going through Browns minicamp

Bob Chesney will get another reunion with one of his former James Madison standouts. Linebacker Trent Hendrick has committed to UCLA , according to Bruin247 , giving the Bruins a veteran addition to the middle of their defense less than two weeks before the start of the 2026 season.

Hendrick's return to college football comes after a Louisiana court granted him a temporary restraining order against the NCAA last week, allowing the veteran linebacker to receive an additional season of eligibility and enter the transfer portal outside the normal transfer window.

Hendrick, who participated in the Cleveland Browns' minicamp in May, exhausted his collegiate eligibility following the 2025 season but was among a group of players who challenged the NCAA's five-for-five eligibility rule. The court ruling opened the door for him to pursue another college opportunity, and he quickly became one of the most sought-after players available.

He ultimately chose UCLA, reuniting with Chesney, who coached Hendrick at James Madison for two seasons before taking over the Bruins in December. Hendrick becomes the 11th player to follow Chesney from James Madison to UCLA.

Hendrick also becomes the most experienced player on UCLA's roster, having logged 1,808 career FBS snaps.

Hendrick spent four seasons at James Madison, starting 32 games and emerging as one of the most productive linebackers in the Sun Belt. He was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 after helping lead the Dukes to the College Football Playoff.

The 6-foot, 234-pound linebacker finished last season with 106 tackles, three sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

His combination of production and experience made Hendrick one of the most intriguing players among those seeking additional college eligibility. 247Sports' college football transfer portal analyst Cooper Petagna ranked Hendrick No. 2 on his list of players who received eligibility relief , noting that his "institutional knowledge could help curb the learning curve" at his next destination.

The Bruins open the season Sept. 5 at Cal, one of the programs that was also involved in Hendrick's recruitment.

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