Head coach James Franklin and Penn State Football reached into the backyard, and landed one of the premier prospects in the state of Pennsylvania, earning a commitment from Harrisburg native Kevin Brown.
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Brown is the No. 98 overall recruit and No. 9 offensive tackle in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. Per the industry ratings, Brown is the No. 36 recruit and No. 5 offensive tackle in his class. And a massive, important addition for the Nittany Lions.
Brown is one of the biggest commitments in the Franklin era at Penn State, joining the likes of Micah Parsons and Dani Dennis-Sutton. That being said, Brown’s commitment for Penn State is a big one for the Nittany Lions, beyond recruiting rankings.
Penn State Football has been improving more & more on the Oline, and Brown’s commitment seems to be the pinnacle for Coach Trautwein.
“The entire team loves being a part of PSU,” Brown told NittanyCentral, as part of a wide-ranging conversation about his commitment. “That was evident in talking with them this last trip. These recruits are from all over the country and they choose to be a part of this program.”
Described as a leader and fierce competitor, Brown is looking to lead with his 2026 core group of fellow commits.
“We’re 90 minutes away, so it is really a blessing for me and my family. My Dad’s going to be coaching my younger brother in high school when I’m in college, so now they can make it to as many home games as possible. I’m really honored to be on board with the ’26 recruits– Messiah, Troy, Jahsiear, Daniel– all of them. I’m excited to be a part of PSU.”
Brown committed to Penn State after attending Saturday’s annual Lasch Bash recruiting barbecue in State College. He ultimately decided to stay home and suit up for the Nittany Lions over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kent State, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, UNLV, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
NittanyCentral spoke with Brown shortly after his commitment to get his thoughts on following his college teammate, running back Mesiah Mickens to Happy Valley, what it was like committing to James Franklin, and more.
Penn State Football OL Kevin Brown Opens up on Commitment, Rivalries, More
NittanyCentral: Many players have consistently talked about the feeling of ‘family’ and how genuine the Penn State coaching staff is in regards to making their decision. Was staying somewhat close to your own family ultimately a part of your commitment decision?
Kevin Brown: “Oh absolutely, it was a major factor. My family and I visited some great D1 schools this spring but my parents really helped me to see that my tribe’s participation would be severely limited due to proximity. PSU has it all.”
NC: Your current teammate, RB Messiah Mickens was the first commit in the PSU 2026 class. How excited were you for him, and how excited are you now that you’ve shut down your commitment and can focus on your final two years of high school and playing with Messiah?
Brown: “It’s going to be an insane season at the High. Messiah can count on a strong line. He’s an insane athlete! I am stoked to get this season underway.”
NC: Piggybacking off that question, Coach Franklin is building an elite squad around you so far:
QB Troy Huhn, WR Jahsiear Rogers, and RB Messiah Mickens. Also the 2025 class is ridiculous awesome as well. How does that play into your efforts to continue to be the best at what you do?
Brown: you’re right– all their recruits are phenoms! Troy, Jahsiear, Messiah, Daniel– it’s just exciting to me to be able to be a part of this. I’m truly blessed.
NC: Your dad was an absolute unit for West Virginia, lettered in six high school sports. An honorable mention All-American by USAToday. Total beast of success. How excited is your dad, family & your younger brothers to see you play at Penn State? And Is your house now divided and how much fun will that PSU-WVU game be for you guys this year?
Brown: “My Dad is an insane athlete. He decided to start playing high school football his 10th grade year, going from a very small, private school to a massive public school. He has boxes of VHS tapes of his games. We’re going to have to find his first game where he ran the wrong way!
“In regards to WVU, honestly, my Dad will never not root for them in his heart. He gave them the best 6 years of his life so it’s understandable that he feels so unable to separate himself from them, but at the same time, he’s a fantastic father and coach and he’s never once projected the need for me to duplicate his choices. In fact, he absolutely loves PSU and the leadership of Coach Franklin and Traut.
“My Dad is the one who helped me see what an absolute fit PSU was for me and to commit early. My Dad and brother, Titus, are gonna need to find a half-PSU, half-WVU shirt to wear to that 1st game. I don’t know if it’s been done before but … 😂.”
NC: What was the coolest part of your overall recruiting experience, and what was the most challenging?
Brown: “The overall best part of my recruiting process was the amount of wonderful coaches and staff around the country that I had the opportunity to form relationships with. The most challenging part of my recruiting process was the time it was taking away from everything else. I know a bunch of student-athletes would like to have my problem but it was clear that this is the direction I’m going in now.”
Growing up watching Penn State and West Virginia, what is a favorite moment or game that stands out and you’ll always remember?
Brown: “We grew up rooting for WVU because of my Dad but he has massive respect for the way Coach Franklin has developed the program and atmosphere at PSU. He’s done a tremendous job there.”
One final, important question tons of fans, especially Caroline (@_supcaroline on X) want to know:
What made you standing-leap out of a swimming pool like Godzilla and did you realize it would become your most viral recruiting tool?
Brown: “Oh boy! Well, I used to go to the gym with my parents before football and my Dad would always have me do high box jumps, like 60+”, so I see box jumps everywhere now. I bet Caroline could box-jump out of that pool with a little training! It’s not that difficult if you train it.”
MORE: Projecting Penn State’s Starting Lineup on Offense for 2024 Season
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He has been recognized for his work as a photographer and has also contributed to various publications including PennLive and The Weather Channel.
Brad is an Air Force veteran, coach and competitive runner that grew up a Nittany Lions fan as his family is originally from the State College area.
His diverse skillset and experiences provide for interesting perspectives on the college football, and sports topics of the day.
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