ESPN Report: Five-Star EDGE Richard Wesley has Committed to Florida Gators, he tells me for The 6’4 255 EDGE from Los Angeles, CA was previously Committed to Texas tech, Tennessee Vols……

In what is shaping up to be one of the most significant recruiting flips of the 2026 cycle, five-star EDGE rusher Richard Wesley has officially committed to the University of Florida. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound pass-rushing phenom from Los Angeles, California confirmed his decision exclusively to ESPN late Saturday night, marking the end of a dramatic, high-profile recruitment that spanned three time zones and shook up multiple Power Five recruiting boards.

Wesley, rated as the No. 2 EDGE in the class of 2026 and the No. 12 overall prospect in the ESPN 300, had previously committed to both Texas Tech and Tennessee during different phases of his recruitment. But after months of reevaluation, decommitments, and intense cross-country visits, the West Coast star has found his final home in Gainesville.

“It’s Gator Nation now,” Wesley said in a phone interview just hours after informing Florida head coach Billy Napier of his decision. “I’ve been through this process long enough to know when it’s real. Florida made me feel like a priority. Not just as a player, but as a person. I trust Coach Napier. I trust Coach Armstrong. And I want to help build something legendary.”

The decision is a massive win for Florida, which has been aggressively reloading its front seven through high-profile national recruiting. It also serves as a major statement to the rest of the SEC: the Gators are back in the national recruiting arms race, and they’re not afraid to dip into California to prove it.

Wesley’s recruitment has been one of the most compelling of the 2026 cycle, marked by early commitments, rapid risers, and late-stage drama. As a sophomore at St. John Bosco (CA), he was a raw but dominant force off the edge—explosive first step, freakish wingspan, and a relentless motor. His junior year saw him take a massive leap, racking up 17.5 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles while earning All-State honors and landing on every major recruiting radar.

Texas Tech was the first to secure his commitment back in early 2024, making waves with Wesley’s surprise pledge during a spring visit to Lubbock. That commitment lasted less than five months, as Power Five bluebloods came calling in the fall, including Georgia, USC, Oregon, Tennessee, and Florida.

Wesley flipped to Tennessee following a raucous weekend visit to Knoxville during the Volunteers’ 2024 season finale against Alabama. The SEC atmosphere, stadium energy, and defensive focus under Josh Heupel gave Wesley a second jolt of excitement. His Tennessee commitment, however, began to lose steam when key defensive assistant coaches left for other jobs in early 2025. Florida pounced.

Billy Napier, defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, and new EDGE coach Jabbar Juluke made Wesley their top defensive priority for the spring. According to sources close to the recruitment, Florida had been quietly in contact for over a year, keeping communication open even when Wesley was committed elsewhere. They sold him not just on early playing time, but on a defensive vision that would place him in the same mold as Florida greats like Alex Brown, Dante Fowler Jr., and Jevon Kearse.

“They didn’t just promise me snaps—they showed me how they’d use me,” Wesley said. “They sat me down in that film room and broke down my tape like I was already on the team. That stuck with me. Other schools showed me highlights. Florida showed me the plan.”

That plan includes putting Wesley into Florida’s versatile Jack linebacker role, a hybrid EDGE/outside linebacker position that allows elite athletes to pin their ears back, rush the passer, and drop into space when needed. Armstrong, one of the youngest and most aggressive defensive coordinators in the country, was reportedly instrumental in closing the deal, spending hours on Zoom breaking down schemes and comparing Wesley’s traits to former NFL standouts.

But beyond X’s and O’s, Wesley cited Florida’s culture and brotherhood as what ultimately won him over. His official visit in May, which included a player-hosted tour of Gainesville, a sit-down dinner with multiple former Gators now in the NFL, and an impromptu workout session at the team’s new Heavener Football Training Center, sealed the deal.

“I needed to feel it,” he said. “And I did. They treated me like family. And I saw how hungry those guys were. They aren’t satisfied with 8 wins or 9 wins. They want rings. And I do too.”

The commitment reshapes Florida’s 2026 class in a major way. Wesley becomes the highest-rated player in the class and likely vaults the Gators into the top 5 nationally. He joins a growing list of top-tier defensive commitments, including elite linebacker Malik Stinson (GA), four-star defensive tackle Ryker Bell (FL), and safety Jermaine Holloway (TX). Combined, it gives the Gators a front-seven core that rivals any in the country.

More importantly, it gives Florida a national brand statement: that they can—and will—go into talent-rich states like California and pull out elite prospects, even those previously committed to other schools. It’s a sign of the program’s growing relevance under Napier, who entered the 2025 season under pressure but is now winning over critics through results both on the field and in the recruiting war room.

Wesley’s commitment also has a ripple effect across multiple schools. Texas Tech, which had quietly hoped to re-enter the conversation late, is now back in search of a pass rusher to headline their class. Tennessee, meanwhile, loses its second five-star decommit in as many months, raising questions about staff stability and scheme fit.

Still, Wesley emphasized that his decision wasn’t about burning bridges—it was about finding alignment.

“I’ve got love for all the coaches who recruited me,” he said. “Tennessee, Texas Tech—those are great places. But at the end of the day, I had to make a decision for me and my future. And when I thought about where I want to grow, who I want to be around, and how I want to be coached—it kept coming back to Florida.”

That future now looks incredibly bright. Wesley will enroll early in January 2026, giving him a full spring to acclimate to college speed and strength. Florida’s staff believes he has the tools to compete immediately for rotational snaps, and potentially become a three-year starter with first-round NFL potential.

Analysts across the board are calling Wesley one of the most college-ready EDGE prospects in the class. His combination of length, burst, and bend make him a nightmare in one-on-one matchups, while his ability to diagnose plays and pursue laterally adds versatility against modern spread offenses.

“He’s not just a pass rusher—he’s a game-wrecker,” said ESPN Recruiting Director Tom Luginbill. “He can change the math on third down. His get-off is elite, and he plays with controlled rage. He’s going to be a problem in the SEC.”

Even more encouraging is Wesley’s mindset. He has surrounded himself with a small, trusted group of advisors—his mother, his older brother (a former JUCO linebacker), and his high school head coach—who have helped keep him grounded amid the chaos. Unlike many high-profile recruits in the NIL era, Wesley has downplayed personal brand talk in favor of development, education, and impact.

“I want to get to the NFL. That’s the goal,” he said. “But I also want to get my degree, play for championships, and leave a mark. Florida gives me the best shot to do all three.”

Wesley also hinted that his recruitment may not just be the end of a story—but the beginning of a domino effect. According to several sources, at least three other uncommitted ESPN 300 defenders are close to joining him in Gainesville, including one current Georgia lean and one LSU target from New Orleans.

“I’ve been talking to some boys,” Wesley said with a grin. “We’re trying to bring a movement to Gainesville. We’re building something scary.”

For Florida fans, the commitment is another reason to believe in the Napier era. After a rollercoaster start to his tenure, Napier has quietly assembled one of the best recruiting operations in the country, blending high school relationships, NFL development selling points, and a player-first culture that’s starting to yield results. The Wesley commitment may end up as a defining moment of that effort.

For Richard Wesley himself, though, it’s all about the grind. Less than 48 hours after making his announcement, he’s already scheduled for three days of speed training and a film breakdown session with his high school coach. The work never stops—and for Florida, that’s exactly the kind of player they’re betting on.

“Big-time players make big-time decisions,” Wesley said. “And I just made mine.”