Dan Lanning immediately gets hit with reality check weeks after elite recruit verbally commits to Oregon

Welsey was also considering USC and Tennessee, but they seem firmly out of the race for the top 50 overall prospect. He recently reclassified from the 2027 to the 2026 class. 

The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder has been more than complimentary of Lanning and his staff, so it's possible he's just doing his due diligence.

“They preach Dan Lanning and his background and the same with Tosh Lupoi. They let me know the Oregon track record and I have seen that,” Wesley said.

“Since the jump, Oregon has been showing me love. I talk to coaches almost every day, they text me all the time and they were begging me for the prom pictures Saturday night. I love the feeling there and I love everything there.”

“Watching the spring game, I got to watch the work they are putting in. They talk about the work a lot, so it was great to see it translate onto the field. My time up there was great again,” Wesley added.

Here's a scouting report on Wesley from On3's Charles Power.

“Richard Wesley is a huge get for Oregon and Dan Lanning. The top pass rusher on the West Coast this cycle. Was the No. 1 edge prospect in the 2027 cycle before reclassifying. He reclassified into a really, really strong EDGE group nationally in 2026. Richard Wesley, I think for starters he is really well built. For a 16-year old, very advanced physically. Muscled up, filled out build. He has been a really good player at Sierra Canyon to this point. Had a very productive season last fall: 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks and I think considering that was really technically his sophomore season, second varsity season, I think that’s encouraging and looking for him to take step this year.”