Skip to main content
Join Now
Get a profile. Be recruited.

2026 EDGE Yahya Gaad decommits from UCLA

hunterby: Hunter Shelton09/14/25HunterShelton_
yahya-gaad-sets-kentucky-game-day-visit
2026 Ole Miss EDGE target Yahya Gaad (Photo credit: Michael Odom-Instagram)

Medina (Tenn.) South Gibson three-star EDGE Yahya Gaad has decommitted from UCLA, he tells Rivals’ Adam Gorney.

Pledged to the Bruins since May 16, Gaad is now uncommitted once again after UCLA fired head coach DeShaun Foster on Sunday. Gaad is also a former SMU commit.

“It’s very heartbreaking,” Gaad said of the firing of Foster when speaking with Gorney. “I loved that man.”

He is the No. 535 overall prospect and No. 57 DL in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 17 player in Tennessee.

Entering the weekend, UCLA had compiled the nation’s No. 23 recruiting class, per the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Gaad’s decommitment leaves UCLA with four D-linemen in the class. He’s the second prospect to decommit from UCLA thus far, alongside four-star offensive tackle Johnnie Jones, the nation’s No. 10 OT. Gaad holds offers from more than 15 other programs and has since announced that he’ll visit Florida State this coming weekend.

UCLA parted ways with Foster following an 0-3 start. The Bruins lost 35-10 at home to New Mexico on Friday night and have also suffered losses to Utah and UNLV. The remaining UCLA recruiting class can be seen here.

UCLA fires DeShaun Foster

Foster finished his time at UCLA with a 5-10 record, going 5-7 in 2024. The Bruins started 1-5 but rallied down the stretch, signaling good things to come. However, it was not be for Foster at his alma mater.

Foster was even asked after the latest loss if he was still the right guy to be able to lead UCLA. The administration thought otherwise.

“Most definitely,” Foster said Saturday night. “(Why?) Because I can get these boys to play … “If you’re a real Bruin, you’ll still be a fan. There are plenty of programs that have had unfortunate starts who have turned stuff around. You’re either going to stick with it or not.”

As he reported Sunday, On3’s Pete Nakos also detailed the buyout language for Foster’s contract. The Bruins owe their head coach $6.24 million. Foster’s buyout would’ve dropped from 70% of his remaining salary to 60% after Dec. 1.

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this story.