Louisville transfer Reuben Unije commits to UCLA

Reuben Unije has found his new home after entering the transfer portal in mid-April. Unije has committed to UCLA for the 2024 season, he announced via social media on Saturday.

The Florida native started 11 games for Houston in 2023 before transferring to Louisville in January. He then entered the portal once again before ever playing a game for the Cardinals.

Reuben Unije originally signed with Illinois in the class of 2018, before attending Coahoma (Miss.) Junior College.

He ended up coming to Houston ahead of the 2020 season and was an immediate contributor. That season, Unije appeared in seven games, while starting the final six games of the season at left tackle. He did not allow a sack in 264 opportunities.

In the 2021 season, Unije only appeared in one game. Unije then appeared in seven games in 2022, making two starts, both at right tackle.

This past season, Reuben Unije moved into a permanent starting role, before entering the transfer portal.

He is joining a UCLA program that is coming off of an 8-5 season in 2023. The Bruins will have a first-year head coach in 2024 after Chip Kelly left to be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

Kelly was replaced by DeShaun Foster, who is a former UCLA star.

DeShaun Foster shares emotional reaction to becoming UCLA head coach

DeShaun Foster lives and breathes UCLA football. And if one didn’t know that already, it came across immediately in his introductory press conference.

Foster, who comes from Charlotte, North Carolina, came to UCLA as a freshman running back in 1998. In the approximately 25 years since then, Foster has been a UCLA player or coach for more than half those years, including a seven-year NFL career.

“Man, I was trying not to cry. I was overcome by emotions,” Foster said in his opening remarks at the press conference. “This is a dream come true, I was overcome by emotions. And one thing I’d like to do, I’d thank Martin [Jarmond], our chancellor, Gene Block, just for giving me this opportunity to coach here at UCLA, at my alma mater. I’ve always dreamed about being a head coach and being at UCLA and being the head coach here at UCLA, you guys have no idea just —”

Foster trailed off, grabbing the handkerchief that Jarmond had set before him and covering his face as he tried to recompose himself as the emotion of the moment overwhelmed him.

After his pause, Foster continued his stump speech for what he wants to turn UCLA into, or return it to. Foster, who coached running backs from 2017 through the 2023 season, didn’t shy away from the fact he’s coming to this project without the track record of some of his peers, either.

He does seem to be deterred, though.

“I’m telling you, it’s something I’m built for, y’all. I can do this,” Foster said. “I’m going to put all my passion into this, I’m here for these boys. I’ve been here for them. I’m going to get this team playing hard. My three pillars: Discipline, respect, and enthusiasm. They’re going to see it, they’re going to feel it. We’re going to get this Rose Bowl back to how it needs to be. We’re in LA — we are UCLA, this is a real university. This isn’t a part-time school. We win banners in every sport. We can do — I just gotta get football back, and I promise y’all I’m the man to do this.”