Penn State made a splash in August of last year by adding a commitment from running back Messiah Mickens. The in-state top-100 prospect has been an active recruiter for the Nittany Lions since he jumped aboard. When it comes to the 2026 class, James Franklin and his staff have been flexing their talent evaluation muscles. Penn State was one of the first offers for Rivals250 prospects Zion Elee, Kevin Brown, David Davis, Carter Scruggs and many others.
There were very high hopes for Penn State last season but it fell just short, losing to Ohio State and Michigan by one possession. Still, a 10-win season and finishing No. 17 in the 2024 team recruiting rankings is nothing to look down on. Coordinator changes on both sides of the ball have brought renewed optimism to Happy Valley and a big season on the field should yield massive results on the recruiting trail.
via @RivalsFriedman
pennstate.rivals.com
There were very high hopes for Penn State last season but it fell just short, losing to Ohio State and Michigan by one possession. Still, a 10-win season and finishing No. 17 in the 2024 team recruiting rankings is nothing to look down on. Coordinator changes on both sides of the ball have brought renewed optimism to Happy Valley and a big season on the field should yield massive results on the recruiting trail.
via @RivalsFriedman
Happy Valley Insider - East Coast Spotlight: Five programs off to strong starts for 2026
Four-star running back Messiah Mickens committed to Penn State in August.
pennstate.rivals.com
