UCLA Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

Secondary

Starting cornerbacks: Nate Meadors, Denzel Fisher
Backups: Keyon Riley, Darnay Holmes

Meadors is the lone returning starter here, though he only played in nine games in 2017. The Bruins should still be strong in the secondary; they’ll be rotating bodies in for five and six-defensive-back sets and have plenty of solid options.

Senior John Johnson was a contender to win the second cornerback job, but he transferred in the offseason, leaving junior Denzel Fisher as the likely next man up. Fisher will be facing competition from a number of freshman — five-star true frosh Darnay Holmes is the biggest name, but keep an eye on redshirt freshman Keyon Riley.

Starting safeties: Jaleel Wadood, Adarius Pickett
Backups: Octavius Spencer, Will Lockett

UCLA returns two of their three top safeties, and they’re both good ones. Senior Jaleel Wadood is a stud, and showed he could make plays both in the secondary and behind the line of scrimmage. Pickett was more of a ballhawk, grabbing three interceptions last season, the second-highest total on the team. In nickel and dime packages, the Bruins will turn to Spencer and Lockett, who saw limited playing time as underclassmen.

The most intriguing name of the bunch is senior Mossi Johnson, who switched to defensive back this summer after spending three years at receiver. It’s not a particularly deep position for the Bruins, but it’s still pretty loaded with talent and should be fearsome once again in 2017.