Undrafted James Madison star Trent Hendrick commits to UCLA thanks to court ruling.

Former James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick, who went undrafted and unsigned after attending NFL minicamps, is reuniting with Bob Chesney at UCLA. The former JMU linebacker exhausted his eligibility after the conclusion of the 2025 season, but Hendrick, along with 15 other football players, was granted a temporary restraining order Wednesday by a Louisiana judge to play a fifth season of college football and enter the transfer portal.

His play earned him Sun Belt Conference defensive player of the year honors. Although the Colorado ruling stated players would not be allowed to enter the transfer portal, a federal appeal court granted the NCAA a temporary stay on the Colorado court order Friday, pausing the nationwide injunction.

It is unclear whether the Louisiana ruling covering Hendrick's transfer will be contested. While Hendrick reportedly considered multiple schools, including local Virginia Tech — the alma mater of his agent Zach Hoban — and Tosh Lupoi-led California, the middle linebacker opted for comfort with scheme and familiarity with the coaching staff at UCLA.

Hendrick represents a significant addition to Hitschler's defense and should immediately fortify the center of the Bruins' front seven. UCLA's run defense ranked 18th worst in the nation last season, conceding 190.4 yards per game, while JMU's unit ranked fifth best, allowing just 85.1 yards per contest.