The UCLA Bruins 2026 football recruiting class is heating up — and fast.
After a months-long lull, the Bruins have now landed three defensive commitments in as many days. The latest addition came Friday, when three-star defensive lineman Yahya Gaad of South Gibson High School in Medina, Tennessee, announced his commitment to the program on social media.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect had just arrived in Westwood for his official visit when he made the decision, extending a hot streak for UCLA football that included the prior commitments of linebacker Matthew Muasau and four-star edge rusher Anthony “Poppa” Jones earlier this week.
UCLA Bruins Earn Commitment From 3-Star Defensive Lineman
Gaad chose the Bruins over an impressive list of offers, including Georgia, Florida State, Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Arizona. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, he’s the No. 15 overall recruit in Tennessee for the 2026 cycle and the No. 58 defensive lineman in the nation.
Previously committed to SMU for two months, Gaad reopened his recruitment on April 5. Just 17 days later, on April 22, he took an unofficial visit to UCLA and received an offer that same day.
“Loved the staff and what they are building,” Gaad told Bruin Blitz after his visit. “They love my aggression and they believe I can have an early impact.”
Two weeks after that initial connection, UCLA defensive line coach Jethro Franklin traveled to Tennessee for an in-home visit with Gaad — a trip that seems to have sealed the deal. According to reports, the pair bonded over “tractor training,” underscoring the personal touch Franklin brought to the recruitment.
Franklin, who coached UCLA’s interior defensive line back in 1999, returned to Westwood this offseason after a successful stint at Fresno State. His experience at both the collegiate and NFL levels is already paying dividends on the recruiting trail.
Gaad’s commitment is another early piece of the puzzle for new head coach DeShaun Foster, who is putting his stamp on the program’s future. After going without a 2026 commit since November, the Bruins have now secured three defensive pledges in under 72 hours — and the class is beginning to take shape.
The program is now up to seven scholarship commits for 2026, with official visit season in full swing and more recruits on deck.
“Recruiting is going to come,” Foster said back on Dec. 4 during National Signing Day. “This is a great university. You got to want to come here. So, we just have to make it visible to guys and just let them know, like, coming around here, being around this program, and you will want to jump in.”
Foster has made good on that vision so far. On Friday night, with more than 10 uncommitted prospects in town, the coaching staff hosted a gathering at Foster’s home. In an Instagram story shared by receivers coach Burl Toler III, Foster was seen draining a long three-pointer on the backyard basketball court — and taking a celebratory victory lap.
With Gaad now on board and a weekend of official visits still ongoing, Foster and the Bruins may be lining up for a few more recruiting victory laps before the weekend is over.