Foster, a UCLA Sports Hall of Famer, was named the 19th head coach in Bruins football history on Feb. 12 and will begin his first season at the helm with the team in 2024. Foster will complete his 11th year as a collegiate coach and his 10th year as an assistant head coach at Westwood in 2023. In 2022, he is a nominee for the Broyles Award, presented annually to the top assistant coach in college football.
Foster will be accompanied by three seniors: Garbers (Republican, senior), Sturdivant (Republican, junior) and Toia (senior).
Garbers will play as the Bruins' top center in 2024 after starting six games in 2023. Highlights of his junior season included catching a season-high three scoring passes in a 38-20 win over rival USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and being named Offensive MVP after a dominant performance off the bench against Boise State in the Los Angeles Bowl.
Sturdivant, in his first season in a Bruins uniform in 2023, ranked second among UCLA wide receivers with 597 yards receiving and 36 receptions. The Highlight Village, Texas, native finished the year with a season-high 142 yards receiving on four catches, including a touchdown, in the LA Bowl win over the Broncos.
Toia appeared in 12 games last season for one of the best defensive lines in the country. He appeared in 13 games as a junior, totaling four tackles for loss and one sack.
The Bruins' season begins on Saturday, August 31, when UCLA travels to Honolulu to face Hawaii at 4:30 pm PST. The game will be broadcast on CBS. UCLA's home opener will be their first Big Ten Conference game on Saturday, September 14, at 4:30 pm against Indiana.
How to watch
UCLA kicked off the festivities Wednesday with Big Ten Football Media Days. Deshawn Foster's press conference will take place at 8:30 a.m. PST. Fans can tune in to watch the Bruins student-athletes on the Big Ten Network starting at 12:30 p.m. PST, with Foster appearing again shortly thereafter.
The second day of Football Media Days coverage will begin at 8 a.m. PST and will air on the Big Ten Network and the FOX Sports app until 2 p.m.
Bruins on Social Media
Follow the UCLA Football team on Instagram (@UCLAFootball) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/UCLAFootball/) for a peek into a day in the life of the Bruins in Indianapolis.
Fans are also encouraged to follow Big Ten Conference social media accounts for more Bruins content.
