Penn State Football Recruiting Reset: What the Next Head Coach Must Do to Save the 2026 Class
With all of the moving parts to Penn State Football right now, what is a successful class of 2026 recruiting haul?
No matter which new football coach is hired by Pat Kraft, they have their work cut out for them.
With the Nittany Lions‘ final game coming on November 29th and early national signing day on December 3rd, the new coaching staff will have to make some quick inroads.
That is, if the new coach is hired before early national signing day.
Here are the ingredients to a successful class of 2026 for Penn State.
Penn State Football Recruiting’s 2026 Blueprint
Sign at Least 8 or More Players
With 25 players committed when James Franklin was fired, eight seems like a small number.
But, given all of the circumstances, signing eight class of 2026 prospects would be impressive. That means that the new head coach has been able to successfully create meaningful relationships quickly.
One thing that Penn State currently needs are leaders who want to come to Penn State because of Penn State.
Not because of James Franklin, but because of Penn State. You can see this happening at LSU after firing Brian Kelly. The Nittany Lions need some recruits to rally together for their love of Penn State.
On paper some names there are a couple of guys who make sense to stay for the love of Penn State.
PA native Jackson Ford is one. He has yet to setup any other visits, that I am aware of.
Another prospect who has been in love with the Nittany Lions for a long time is Mathieu Lamah. He has not been shy about how he feels about Penn State.
If guys like Ford and Lamah choose to go forward with their commitment in the face of uncertainty, I’d expect others to follow.
Landing eight players out of a high-floor class of 2026 would be a win for Penn State.
Land as Much In-State Talent as Possible
This is the key tenet to any Penn State Football recruiting class.
It starts with the Pennsylvania kids. It ends with the Pennsylvania kids.
The top six rated “soft commits” to Penn State are from Pennsylvania.
Teammates Kevin Brown and Messiah Mickens are the first two in-staters that pop out.
Both have been committed for quite some time. Both, however, are looking around at this time.
Brown has taken a visit to West Virginia and is slated to visit Ohio State sometime soon too. Mickens has also began to hear other schools out.
Mickens and Brown would be massive in-state prospects to keep home.
Matt Sieg is also a crucial PA recruit.
The Fort Cherry record setter has been locked in with Penn State for nearly a year.
But, he visited Pitt over the weekend, and after all that is close to home for him. The whispers I’ve heard are that this one may come down to Pitt and Penn State.
Jackson Ford, Terry Wiggins, David Davis, and Tavian Branch are the other Pennsylvania commits who have remained softly committed to the Nittany Lions.
Ford makes sense to stay at Penn State, as does Wiggins. While nothing is a guarentee, Davis and Branch seem to be moreso wildcards.
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Penn State Must Attack the Transfer Portal Like Crazy
This is probably the biggest key to having a successful class of 2026. Hit the transfer portal hard.
In this day and age of college football the transfer portal has revolutionized recruiting.
If Penn State hires another sitting head coach, expect him to bring over quite a few players from their former stop. If Penn State goes a different route, I would still anticipate a high number of transfers.
Last year, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti brought in 31 transfers who had an immediate impact at Indiana.
With a senior laden team, combined with a likely tranfer portal exodus, I would anticipate the new head man bringing in upwards of 30 tranfers. It is absolutely paramount that the Nittany Lions bring in quality football players via the transfer portal in the class of 2026.
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Purdy was born and raised in central Ohio and served for four years writing for his high school's newsletter. Currently studying Biblical Studies at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, Ian has been a lifelong Nittany Lion fan.
- Penn State Football Recruiting Reset: What the Next Head Coach Must Do to Save the 2026 Class - October 30, 2025
- Would this Wildcard Head Coach Candidate fit at Penn State Football? - October 30, 2025
- Inside the Recruiting Fallout After James Franklin’s Firing: 5 Recruits Penn State’s New Coach Can’t Afford to Lose - October 29, 2025