Linebacker Jordan Genmark Heath has been an impactful player in his first and only season with UCLA, carving out a role for himself on a senior-laden defense.

Genmark Heath spent three seasons with Notre Dame before transferring to UCLA and taking on a leadership role.

“Jordan’s brought a little bit of everything,” senior running back Brittain Brown said. “When he got here he told me what he was going to do and he did that.

“His leadership skills are off the charts and he has helped raise the defense to another level.”

Genmark Heath had 51 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception for the Bruins this season.

“Jordan is a big guy on footwork,” linebacker Kain Medrano said in August. “The thing that I admire the most about him is he’s coming in here and teaching us the tips that he’s learned and we’re doing the same.”

Genmark Heath will also be able to share his postseason experience with a program that will play its first bowl game since 2017 when the Bruins (8-4) square off with North Carolina State (9-3) in the Holiday Bowl on Tuesday night at Petco Park in San Diego.

Genmark Heath has had to do some self-evaluation of his own after fulfilling his dream of playing high school football at Cathedral Catholic in San Diego after moving from Sweden at the age of 14.

“It was very different,” Genmark Heath said. “There were only 600 kids who played the sport at that time. … My stepfather is the one who got me into football and we loved the Chargers.”

He didn’t hear much about college football while in Sweden but would stay up at 2 a.m. to watch the Chargers play.

Genmark Heath started to receive opportunities to play college football after he was named to the San Diego Section’s All-CIF first team as a safety in 2016 when Cathedral Catholic went 15-0 and won the CIF Division I-AA State championship his senior season.

The four-star prospect had offers to play at Boston College, Northwestern and Harvard, but he also had interest from Pac-12 programs, including UCLA.

“It’s funny because UCLA recruited me as a linebacker and I told them I was a safety at heart, so I had to respectfully decline and I went to Notre Dame as a safety,” he said.

Genmark Heath didn’t stay at safety long after he was asked to move to linebacker during his freshman year because of his playing style and Notre Dame’s need for depth at the position.

The new position led to a 30-pound weight gain and the need to learn how to play in the box behind the defensive line.

“It’s a whole different game, but I love it,” he said. “This is definitely the position where I belong.”

The senior said he felt a sense of belonging this season at UCLA and spoke about his college journey after a 42-14 victory over Cal on Senior Night at the Rose Bowl.

“There was a time where I was coming down bad,” Genmark Heath said. “I felt like people gave up on me and I’m extremely blessed to have this coaching staff to bring me in and believe in me.”

When Genmark Heath expects at least 40 family members and friends to be in the stands for the Holiday Bowl.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, especially for me coming from overseas,” he said. “It’s an unreal experience and I have all the coaches, my parents, family and friends who helped me throughout this journey to mold me into the man I am today.”

UNAVAILABLE

Fifth-year senior defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight announced on Thursday night that he won’t play for UCLA in the Holiday Bowl “due to COVID protocols.”

He was fully vaccinated before the start of the season.

“I talked to him and he said he was feeling better,” Coach Chip Kelly said. “He got tested because he was symptomatic.”

Knight was an emotional and vocal leader for the Bruins and had a team-high 66 tackles and 8.5 tackles for a loss in 12 games this season.

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“He’s a heck of a football player and I don’t think he’s done playing football,” Kelly said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed, physical player. He embodies what you want in a player with his energy, enthusiasm and his leadership.”

Knight mentioned during his statement that he will begin preparing for the NFL Draft process.

Martell Irby is expected to start in place of Knight.

Kelly has stated this season that the team is 98 percent vaccinated and that the players are tested once a week. He mentioned the players were tested Thursday morning and were waiting to hear back on those results.

NEW HIRE

Kelly also announced the hiring of Chad Kauha’aha’a to the defensive coaching staff on Friday. He will work as an analyst for the bowl game. Kauha’aha’a has previously worked as a defensive line coach at USC, UNLV, Boise State and Oregon State.