Four-star recruit Elijah Wade picks UCLA

Four-star weakside defensive end Elijah Wade announced a verbal commitment to UCLA on Sunday night, pushing Chip Kelly’s first recruiting class in Westwood to 18 with less than two weeks to go before National Signing Day.

Wade was the second recruit to commit to UCLA on Sunday along with three-star cornerback Elisha Guidry.

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound pass rusher from Las Vegas also had Pac-12 offers from Cal, USC, Arizona State and Colorado with Nebraska and Vanderbilt high among his suitors. He is the fifth-best recruit in Nevada, according to 247 Sports’ Composite Rankings, and the 17th-best recruit at his position in the country.

Wade is the second defensive lineman to commit for this class, joining defensive tackle Atonio Mafi, but may move to a pass-rushing outside linebacker position in what’s expected to be a 3-4 defensive front.