DeShaun Foster provides clarity on reports Robert McDaniel, Dermaricus Davis will transfer

Roster building is a year round challenge in college sports now, and that’s no different for the UCLA Bruins and head coach DeShaun Foster. Amid the Spring transfer window, there have been several players who have entered or considered entering the portal.

Two players who there were some questions about were a pair of quarterbacks, Robert McDaniel and Dermaricus Davis. Now, amid questions about their future at UCLA, Foster has shared what he knows about their respective plans.

“I know one did,” DeShaun Foster said. “And the other is still questionable… So, I know for sure Robert is in the portal.”

Robert McDaniel came to UCLA as a three-star recruit in the Class of 2025, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He was the 31st-ranked quarterback in the country for his recruiting cycle. He was one of two quarterbacks who the Bruins brought in from high school that recruiting cycle, alongside Colton Gumino.

Foster went on to clarify that Davis is still weighing his options. That includes the chance he stays at UCLA, saying, “There’s most definitely a chance.”

It was also reported that Dermaricus Davis would enter the Transfer Portal. However, as DeShaun Foster explained, that hasn’t officially happened yet. He was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, but did not play during his freshman season at UCLA.

This comes as Foster and UCLA have been very active in the Transfer Portal this season. The Bruins have the 15th-ranked transfer class in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. That includes 30 players who have left the program and 24 players who have joined through the portal since the end of last season.

The biggest name that UCLA has added in the portal is Nico Iamaleava. The starter at Tennessee last season, he and the Volunteers program suffered a public falling out and he entered the portal, landing at UCLA. It was a decision that the Bruins quarterback room has felt the ripple effect of since. Joey Aguilar, who previously transferred into the program for the 2025 cycle, made the decision to leave and ironically ended up committing to Tennessee. On top of that, UCLA also brought in Iamaleava’s brother, quarterback Madden Iamaleava, as a transfer as well.

Amid those major roster moves, other UCLA quarterbacks are clearly considering their options. Retaining as many of them as possible is going to be a challenge for DeShaun Foster, but it’s the balance that comes with roster building through the Transfer Portal.