It seems like Oregon can’t catch a break on the recruiting trail. Ducks HC Dan Lanning came into 2025 with big names expected to commit to the program. However, the commitment train soon took a U-turn. From quarterbacks to linemen, decommitments have hit Lanning’s program hard this offseason.
And if there’s one thing linking all the noise behind the scenes, it’s the NIL chatter. In a space where money talks, it seems Oregon might not be speaking loud enough. The Ducks have now lost five-star QB Jared Curtis and OT Jackson Cantrell. Oregon even tried to make a final push, but money and momentum won out.
Now, yet again, there is a new name joining the list of Ducks flying elsewhere. It’s only been 17 days since Oregon fans watched him cannonball into Duck Nation, but five-star EDGE Richard Wesley is already out.
Richard Wesley Decommits From Dan Lanning, Oregon, Despite Viral Commitment Video
It was only two weeks ago that the Ducks dropped a hype video of a soaked but smiling Dan Lanning jumping into a pool with five-star edge rusher Richard Wesley.
In the video, Wesley asks, “You ready, coach?” and Lanning replies, saying, “Let’s get it!”. And it looked like Oregon had landed a name that opponents should worry about. But now, that pool has gone cold.
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Richard Wesley has decided to get back into the market. The Sierra Canyon (CA) star and No. 2 edge in the country has decommitted from Oregon, and just like that, the Ducks lost a player who 247Sports’ Greg Biggins compares to Kayvon Thibodeaux. It is not just about the optics, though; it is also the timeline.
Barely two weeks after going all in on Oregon’s dream, Wesley and his family started having second thoughts. His dad, Jonathan Wesley, even told Rivals, “We don’t have anything set in stone with Oregon as far as the full package.” That should’ve given HC Lanning a message.
Now, Wesley is back on the open market, with official visits to Texas and Ohio State already lined up. That now makes Wesley the latest defection in a growing line of lost talent. Just this week, Oregon also saw four-star OT Alai Kalaniuvalu went on switch and move to BYU.
Others, such as Dallas Wilson, Jonas Williams, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Bott Mulitalo, and Tomuhini Topui, have also withdrawn from the program in recent months. The Ducks’ 2025 and 2026 classes are bleeding blue chips.
RELATED: Dan Lanning Gets Unsettling News on 5-Star Commit Richard Wesley Amid Recruitment Drama
But what truly hurts is that Richard Wesley’s moment was supposed to mean something. That video was Dan Lanning’s way of showing fans and recruits alike that he’s building something special in Eugene. But if Wesley’s commitment couldn’t even survive a three-week shelf life, then what does that moment say now?
The Ducks open their 2025 season on August 30 against Montana State. Between now and then, Dan Lanning’s got more than a few holes to patch. If Oregon doesn’t start winning in the NIL department soon, more pool parties might end up sinking before they float.
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