The recruits just keep rolling in for Bob Chesney’s UCLA Bruins. The weekend began with a report that UCLA had landed 2027 four-star running back Jayshon Gibson Saturday morning, giving the Bruins a key offensive weapon.
Chesney has put on a masterclass in recruiting since taking over at UCLA in December. While at Holy Cross and James Madison, Chesney was already compiling a great amount of talent, now Chesney’s doing it at Power Four level in the Big Ten Conference.
As of Saturday morning, UCLA’s 2027 class ranks as the No. 7 recruiting class in the nation. 247 Sports actually has Gibson as a three-star recruit, but the 247 Sports’ composite has Gibson as the Bruins’ seventh four-star recruit, joining Jackson Roper and Jerry Outhouse Jr., who both committed to UCLA on Friday.
Like Outhouse, Gibson comes to UCLA from Texas, as the North Richland Hills native chose to head to Westwood over offers from Michigan, Iowa and USC. UCLA has addressed their mediocre running back production in 2025, landing Wayne Knight from James Madison in the transfer portal and now landing a potential running back of the future in Gibson.
Gibson caught the eye of 247 Sports Scouting Analyst Gabe Brooks.
“Productive runner at the Texas 5A level who provides sudden downhill juice at a higher volume,” Brooks said of Gibson. “Naturally low center of gravity and consistent urgency that aid in ability to finish above weight.”
If you were expecting gaudy high school stats, well here they are. Gibson racked up 2,263 rushing yards as a junior last year, scoring 46 touchdowns from scrimmage, adding another 387 yards receiving.
UCLA still doesn’t have a QB of the future set to be the heir replacement for Nico Iamaleava, but whoever that quarterback is might just have Gibson lining up next to them for the Bruins under Chesney.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Recruiting win: UCLA lands 2027 four-star running back Jayshon Gibson
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
