Top 2026 UCLA Commit Flips to Tennessee

UCLA's highest-rated 2026 commit flipped to Tennessee on Wednesday.

Sep 12, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins assistant head coach Jerry Neuheisel looks on during the second half against the New Mexico Lobos at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

In the days leading up to Early National Signing Day, UCLA has received a wave of both good news and bad news on the 2026 recruiting trail.

While the Bruins have built a strong 2026 class, they have recently lost some of their top commits to other programs, including a four-star defensive lineman who was UCLA's highest-rated commit, flipping to Tennessee on Wednesday.

UCLA Loses Four-Star EDGE to Tennessee

On Dec. 3, Rivals' Hayes Fawcett reported on X that Carter Gooden, a four-star defensive lineman from the Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts had flipped his commitment from UCLA to Tennessee.

BREAKING: Four-Star DL Carter Gooden has Flipped his Commitment from UCLA to Tennessee, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’4 250 DL had been Committed to the Bruins since July⁰⁰“GO VOLS”⁰⁰https://t.co/bhSVFPI1oE pic.twitter.com/swwKxtRiiK

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 3, 2025

Gooden had been committed to UCLA since July and remained loyal to the Bruins throughout the fall, even after the program parted ways with former head coach DeShaun Foster. 

However, while he didn't decommit from UCLA, other programs began making a push for him in October, with Miami, Tennessee, Washington, and Vanderbilt all extending him offers. 

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Gooden took an official visit with the Voluneteers and the Comodores in November, and after his trip to Knoxville, he spoke with Volquest's Matt Ray about the experience. The four-star defensive lineman explained that the atmosphere in Neyland Stadium, as well as Tennessee's defensive scheme, were both things he really liked about the program.

• “The game day atmosphere at this place was insane,” Gooden told Ray. ”The fans were loud and screaming the whole time. I couldn’t really hear the person in the next seat. It was a good experience.”

Oct 5, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; General view of a Tennessee Volunteers helmet prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

• He later added, "They [Tennessee] see me as a field side defensive end. That is exactly what I want to play. I see that they rotate a lot. They play a bunch of different guys and give them the ability to stop the run and rush the passer. It is not like they are limited to one thing or forced to just do one thing, so that was great to see.”

His visit to Tennessee was enough to make him reconsider his commitment to UCLA, and ultimately, he decided that the Volunteers were the best program for him. 

Losing Gooden is a massive hit to UCLA's 2026 class. He was the Bruins' highest-rated commit with Rivals' industry rankings listing him as the No. 142 overall player in the country, the No. 16 defensive lineman, and the No. 1 prospect from Massachusetts. 

Now, UCLA and new head coach Bob Chesney have their work cut out for them as replacing a player of Gooden's caliber is no easy task.

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