DeShaun Foster and the UCLA Bruins secured a key recruiting win on Thursday as four-star defensive end David Schwerzel committed to UCLA, picking the Bruins over Stanford and Washington.
Schwerzel becomes a valuable addition to UCLA’s 2026 class. Ranked as the No. 37 defensive end nationally, he was widely expected to join Washington and potentially face the Bruins as a conference rival. Hailing from Seattle, Schwerzel was previously projected to land with the Huskies by 247Sports.
A standout at O’Dea High School—located just minutes from Washington’s Husky Stadium—Schwerzel ultimately chose to head to Westwood, where he’ll have the opportunity to battle his hometown team for Big Ten titles over the next four years.
According to 247Sports, Schwerzel is also ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the state of Washington. As a junior, he led his team with 3.0 sacks and played a pivotal role in O’Dea’s perfect 13-0 season, which ended with a 3A state championship.
“UCLA has always been one of the schools I’ve been interested in since I was a little kid,” Schwerzel told UCLA Rivals’ Tracy McDannald in a previous interview.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, Schwerzel offers ideal size and physical traits for a defensive end—traits that attracted interest from top programs including Penn State, Michigan, and Notre Dame.
His commitment strengthens an already strong 2026 recruiting class for UCLA. According to ESPN, the Bruins now have six four-star recruits, with Schwerzel being one of 11 prospects rated three stars or higher.
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