
CJ Lavender brings rangy, high-upside West Coast DB energy to UCLA
CJ Lavender is a 2026 UCLA freshman defensive back who arrives as a three-star recruit with real ball-hawk juice: in high school, he piled up 10 interceptions, 130 tackles, 16 pass breakups, and three fumble recoveries, then capped his senior year with seven picks and Trinity League MVP honors in 2025. The fit is appealing because he chose UCLA to stay home and has the profile of a competitive, instinctive defensive back with production, versatility, and a knack for making splash plays.





