The Texas Longhorns just landed one of the biggest defensive prizes of the 2026 recruiting cycle - and they didn’t just win the battle, they held the line until the ink dried.
Five-star edge rusher Richard Wesley, out of Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, California, has officially signed with Texas, delivering a major win for Steve Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. Wesley had originally committed to Oregon back in May, but after reopening his recruitment and taking a summer official visit to Austin, the Longhorns made their move.
By June, he was committed to Texas. Now, with Early Signing Day in the books, that commitment is officially locked in.
This is a massive pickup for a Texas program that’s been building its identity around disruptive, high-pressure defense - especially off the edge. Under Kwiatkowski, the Longhorns have developed a reputation for bringing heat, and Wesley fits that mold perfectly. He’s not just another body in the rotation; he’s a potential game-changer.
Wesley is ranked as the No. 6 edge rusher and the No. 28 overall prospect nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. But those rankings only tell part of the story.
He’s a reclassified prospect from the 2027 class - and before that move, he was considered a top-five overall player in that younger group. So while he’s technically a 2026 signee, he’s still a year young for his class.
That makes his physical readiness all the more impressive.
At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Wesley already looks the part of a college-ready edge defender. He’s been producing like one too.
Over the past two seasons, he’s racked up 18.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss - numbers that speak to both his explosiveness and his ability to finish plays. His first step is quick, his get-off is violent, and he’s already showing the kind of hand usage you typically see from upperclassmen.
He can dip, bend, and turn the corner with burst - all the traits you want in a high-level pass rusher.
Wesley’s not just a one-trick pony, either. He’s got a feel for the ball - the kind of awareness that leads to impact plays.
In his tape, he pulls off the rare defensive hat trick: sack, forced fumble, and recovery, all in one sequence. That’s not just production; that’s instinct.
And when it comes to defending the run, he’s no liability. Wesley shows the ability to squeeze down the line of scrimmage, set the edge, and chase plays from the backside with real effort.
What stands out most is how college-ready he already looks. Despite being younger than most of his peers, Wesley plays with a maturity and motor that should translate early.
Don’t be surprised if he sees the field in pass-rush situations as a freshman - the kind of third-down specialist who can pin his ears back and go. As he adjusts to the speed and physicality of the college game, he has the skill set to grow into a full-time starter and potential star at the Power Four level.
For Texas, this is more than just a blue-chip signing. It’s a continuation of a defensive identity that’s been forged under Kwiatkowski - fast, physical, and relentless off the edge.
Wesley fits that vision perfectly. And if his trajectory holds, he won’t just be part of the Longhorns’ defensive future - he could be one of the faces of it.