In the high-stakes world of college football recruiting, moments intended to solidify commitments can quickly become stark illustrations of the sport’s inherent volatility. Such is the case with a recruiting video featuring University of Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning and then-commit, five-star edge rusher Richard Wesley. The video, capturing the pair jubilantly jumping into a pool, has resurfaced and gone viral following Wesley’s decision to decommit from Oregon and subsequently pledge his future to the University of Texas Longhorns.
This episode underscores the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of securing elite talent, particularly within the competitive landscape of major college conferences like the Big Ten and the SEC.
The Recruit at the Center: Richard Wesley’s Journey
Richard Wesley is one of the most highly-regarded prospects in the 2026 recruiting class. Evaluated by national scouting services, he holds significant rankings: No. 24 recruit nationally, the No. 4 edge rusher in the country, and the No. 5 recruit from the state of California. His talent profile makes him a priority target for premier collegiate programs across the nation.
Wesley’s recruiting process saw a notable shift in recent months. He initially committed to Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks in May. However, this commitment proved to be short-lived. Just 17 days after his initial pledge, Wesley made the decision to decommit from Oregon, reopening his recruitment.
His recruitment culminated in a new commitment on June 22, 2025, when Wesley officially announced his intention to play for the Texas Longhorns, a significant recruiting victory for the SEC program.
The Viral Video and Its Unintended Context
The video at the heart of the recent online buzz shows Coach Lanning and Wesley celebrating the initial commitment with a memorable moment – a joint leap into a pool. These types of engaging, often personalized, videos are common tools used by college coaching staffs to connect with recruits and create shareable content celebrating commitments.
However, with Wesley’s subsequent decommitment from Oregon and his high-profile flip to Texas, the video has taken on an entirely new context. What was intended as a symbol of a solidified bond is now being widely shared and, in many instances, mocked online. Fans of rival programs and media outlets have circulated the clip, highlighting the stark contrast between the celebratory scene depicted and the current reality of Wesley choosing a different university.
Among those who have reportedly engaged with or shared the video critically are elements associated with the USC Trojans, a rival program to Oregon within the new Big Ten alignment. This online reaction underscores how quickly recruiting narratives can shift and how past moments, captured digitally, can be reinterpreted or used for competitive banter when circumstances change.
Decommitment Trends Impacting Oregon’s 2026 Class
Richard Wesley’s decommitment is not an isolated incident for the Oregon Ducks in the 2026 recruiting cycle. The program has experienced several high-profile decommitments from prospects who had previously pledged to join the class. This trend is a point of focus for recruiting analysts and observers tracking the Ducks’ progress.
Prior to Wesley’s decision, Oregon saw other significant recruits back away from their commitments within the 2026 class. These include:
* Four-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene
* Four-star defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui
* Four-star defensive lineman Bott Mulitalo
* Four-star quarterback Jonas Williams
These departures represent the loss of several highly-rated players across key positions, potentially impacting the overall strength and depth of the incoming class if not addressed through new commitments.
Navigating the Recruiting Landscape: Oregon’s Current Standing
Despite the notable decommitments, the Oregon Ducks’ 2026 recruiting class maintains a respectable position within national rankings. According to various recruiting services tracking commitments, Oregon’s class is currently ranked No. 8 nationally. Furthermore, within their new conference home, the Big Ten, the Ducks’ class holds the No. 3 ranking.
This indicates that while the decommitments are setbacks, the coaching staff continues to secure commitments from other talented prospects. The recent commitment from five-star safety Jett Washington, for example, provides a significant boost to the class and demonstrates the program’s continued ability to attract elite talent.
The recruitment process is fluid, with commitments and decommitments occurring frequently, especially more than a year out from National Signing Day. Programs must constantly work to build relationships, evaluate talent, and hold onto commitments in the face of persistent recruitment efforts from rival schools.
The Broader Implications of Recruiting Volatility
The Richard Wesley situation, amplified by the viral pool video, serves as a powerful example of the pressures and unpredictability inherent in modern college football recruiting. For coaches like Dan Lanning, building a strong class requires not only securing initial commitments but also actively recruiting players even after they have verbally pledged.
For players like Richard Wesley, the process involves complex decisions about their future, often influenced by coaching changes, program trajectories, relationships with staff, and opportunities for early playing time. A decommitment is a player’s decision to reopen their options before signing a binding National Letter of Intent.
For fans and programs, the online reaction to the video highlights the public nature of recruiting and how quickly celebratory moments can be used to critique or underscore challenges. It’s a reminder that every interaction, every piece of content, exists within a rapidly evolving narrative.
Conclusion
The viral video of Dan Lanning and Richard Wesley jumping into a pool has become more than just a snapshot of a recruit’s commitment; it’s a symbol of the dynamic forces at play in college football recruiting. While the video was initially a positive reflection of Oregon’s success in securing a five-star talent, its resurgence following Wesley’s flip to Texas underscores the fragility of verbal commitments and the intense competition among elite programs.
Oregon continues to build its 2026 class despite these challenges, maintaining a strong national and conference ranking. However, the episode serves as a high-profile reminder that in the battle for top recruits, nothing is truly final until the signing day ink is dry.
