Resurgent UCLA class flips local 2026 DL James Moffat
The wheels were motion over the past week for UCLA and Encino (Calif.) Crespi defensive lineman James Moffat.
The one-time Princeton commit backed off his pledge Friday, two days after taking an official visit to Westwood. By Sunday evening, the Bruins completed the flip when Moffat announced his decision to join a resurgent 2026 recruiting class still in search of its next head coach.
“I’ve grown up in L.A. so UCLA was always a dream school for me,” Moffat told Bruin Blitz after making the announcement. “Even with the coaching situation, I feel like I can play for anyone. I’ve been through a rebuild in high school and know how rewarding it is to see the work you put into it pay off and I want to be apart of that again. With the resources available at UCLA I know it can happen.”
Moffat added that while he will not be an early enrollee, he plans to make frequent visits until it’s time to start his college journey.
“I will be around UCLA as much as I can beforehand,” Moffat said.
The news comes a day after the Bruins were able to lock San Juan Hills interior offensive lineman Cooper Javorsky back in during Saturday night’s visit to the Rose Bowl and add a commitment from NFL Academy linebacker Joel Queisser.
UCLA is now back up to 18 commitments ahead of the Dec. 3 early signing period.
