Troy Aikman doesn’t seem eager to become a full-time recruiter, but UCLA’s pursuit of four-star quarterback Brady Edmunds was important enough to bring the Bruins legend off the sidelines.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer recorded a personalized message for Edmunds during the Huntington Beach standout’s official visit to Westwood, adding another layer to what is becoming one of the most intriguing recruiting battles in the 2027 class.
Troy Aikman joins UCLA’s push to flip four-star QB Brady Edmunds from Ohio State. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect“Hope you’re having an amazing time there in Westwood this weekend,” Aikman told Edmunds via a video he posted to X. “I loved my time there at UCLA. … Looking forward to seeing you take it to the next level and hoping that’s going to be at UCLA.”
The timing is notable.
UCLA Bruins quarterback Troy Aikman (8) in action against the Stanford Cardinal at the Rose Bowl. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Edmunds has been committed to Ohio State since December 2024 and was once viewed as one of the safest quarterback pledges in the country. Now, that certainty appears to be fading.
“The visit went really, really well,” Edmunds told On3d. “Whatever expectation I had, it definitely surpassed it… As of now, I don’t know where I’m going.”
This qualifies as a victory for a team looking to rebuild after a disastrous 2025 season.
The Bruins aren’t simply selling tradition or proximity to home. Much of the momentum centers around first-year head coach Bob Chesney, whose arrival has generated significant buzz throughout college football circles.
Bob Chesney, April 2026 UCLA Bruins Spring Practice. Jan Kim Lim/UCLA athleticsChesney built a reputation as one of the sport’s premier program-builders, winning at every stop from Division III through the FCS level before arriving in Westwood.
His high-energy practices, aggressive recruiting approach and culture-first philosophy have drawn obvious comparisons to the formula Curt Cignetti used to transform Indiana from an afterthought into a national power.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day enters Ohio Stadium. Getty Images
Aikman attends the 2026 Disney Upfront at Jacob Javitz Center. FilmMagicChesney stepped into Cignetti’s job at James Madison after he left for the Hoosiers, leading the Dukes to a 12–2 record and a playoff berth in 2025.
Edmunds visit to UCLA resonated with him.
“It definitely felt like I was valued a lot there,” he said. “They made it clear. They showed me their plan for me.”
Ohio State still has an official visit to come and remains firmly in the race. But UCLA has accomplished something few programs have managed over the last 17 months.
It unmoored one of Ryan Day’s longest-standing commitments to publicly admit he’s no longer sure where he’ll play.
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