Insider: UCLA's DeShaun Foster a 'Work in Progress'

Despite finishing his first season at the helm of the UCLA football program with a 5-7 record, DeShaun Foster is widely viewed as one of the top rising culture-shifters for what he's done in his first full offseason with the Bruins.

And yet, he still has some doubters.

Even after making a splash in the transfer portal by acquiring former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava and conjuring up one of UCLA's best recruiting classes in recent history for the class of 2026, some college football insiders still aren't sold -- at least not yet.

The Athletic 's senior college football writer and insider, Chris Vannini, released a new college football coaching tier list ahead of the 2025 season, the first year Foster is on the annual list.

Of the eight tiers, each with its titles and descriptions, Foster found himself on Vannini's seventh tier: the "Works in Progress." The Tier List Foster is joined on Tier 7 by Trent Bray (Oregon State), Jeff Choate (Nevada), Clark Lea (Vanderbilt), Joe Moorhead (Akron), Eric Morris (UNT), Ricky Rahn (ODU), Brent Pry (Virginia Tech), Lance Taylor (Western Michigan), Scotty Walden (UTEP) and Justin Wilcox (Cal).

Here's what Vannini had to say about the tier and the coaches in it: "This tier is a mix of hot seats and newcomers.

Six members of last year's Tier 7 were eventually fired.

Coaches like Akrons Joe Moorhead, Old Dominions Ricky Rahne, Virginia Techs Brent Pry and Cals Justin Wilcox face a lot of pressure in 2025.

"Nevadas Jeff Choate and UTEPs Scotty Walden are both coming off three-win FBS debut seasons last year, but their previous success in the Football Championship Subdivision keeps them from the bottom tier.

Choate built Montana State into the top program it is today, while Walden took Austin Peay to a top-10 season.

Oregon States Trent Bray and UCLAs Deshaun Foster also debut on this list after 5-7 seasons.

"Vanderbilts Clark Lea is the lone coach to move up into Tier 7, coming off a 7-6 season and Vandys first win against Alabama since 1985." It's still early in Foster's UCLA tenure, but the impact he's made in such a short time shouldn't go unnoticed.

It's not far-fetched to see him go up a few tiers as early as next season.

Make sure to bookmark UCLA Bruins On SI to get all your daily UCLA Bruins news, analysis and more! Read more on UCLA football and their momentous second season in the Big Ten and under DeShaun Foster here .

While you're here, check out all things UCLA basketball and Mick Cronin improving the Bruins through the transfer portal here .

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI and @cmorenoNBA to keep up with every story surrounding UCLA athletics! Please let us know your thoughts on this when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE .

UCLA Bruins Latest News.

This article has been shared from the original article on si, here is the link to the original article.