Penn State Football Recruiting: 7 ‘Must Have’ Targets for Nittany Lions in 2026 Cycle
As the weather slowly begins to warm, so does Penn State Football recruiting.
The exciting January Junior Days have come and gone, and February marked the conclusion of the 2025 recruiting cycle while ushering in a dead period for most of the month.
Now that March is here, the intensity of recruiting is ramping up.
Here are seven must-have recruits for James Franklin and his staff.
Overall, Penn State needs to land at least five of these seven players to assemble an elite 2026 class. (Note: These are not necessarily the best prospects, but rather the most important for Penn State.)
Penn State Football Recruiting Top Targets to Watch
7. Kaden Gebhardt (LB/SAF, Olentangy High School, OH)
Kaden Gebhardt is the furthest outside Penn State’s typical recruiting footprint among this list. He attends Olentangy High School, located just 30 minutes from Ohio State’s campus.
However, Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, an Olentangy alum, played alongside Gebhardt, which should help the Nittany Lions in this recruiting battle.
Gebhardt is a hard-hitting, fast athlete who projects as either a linebacker or safety at the next level. Former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen was a huge fan of Gebhardt, which boded well for the Nittany Lions—until Allen departed for Clemson.
Unsurprisingly, Clemson quickly jumped into the mix upon Allen’s arrival, and Gebhardt visited the Tigers in January.
As of now, Gebhardt has official visits lined up with Penn State, Ohio State, and Clemson. Clemson appears to have the momentum, but his recruitment could shift after those visits.
6. Luke Wafle (DL, Hun School, NJ)
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Luke Wafle, a 6-foot-5 edge rusher, hails from New Jersey, keeping him well within Penn State’s typical recruiting territory.
Wafle was a big mover in ON3’s recent rankings update, climbing to No. 19 nationally. Wafle has several offers and upcoming visits to UNC and Ohio State, with more likely to follow.
Penn State has one key advantage—Wafle’s brother, Owen, transferred to Penn State in January. That connection could be a major factor in the younger Wafle’s recruitment. Penn State would love to add him alongside Daniel Jennings as part of what could be a four-edge rusher class.
5. Carter Meadows (DL, Gonzaga College High School, DC)
Carter Meadows is a fascinating prospect for Penn State, attending the same high school as Nittany Lion legend Olu Fashanu.
The staff has made Meadows a priority, and he has rapidly climbed the rankings in both ON3 and 247Sports. He could ultimately become a five-star recruit.
Meadows, a dual-sport athlete currently playing basketball, recently received a visit from Fashanu, which could help Penn State’s pitch.
However, as one of the top prospects in the country, he will likely have lucrative NIL offers from powerhouse programs. Given his talent and proximity to Happy Valley, Penn State must go all-in to secure him in the 2026 class.
4. Messiah Hampton (WR, James Monroe High School, NY)
Messiah Hampton is the type of dynamic playmaker Penn State has lacked in recent recruiting cycles.
A true speedster at wide receiver, he has yet to schedule an official visit with Penn State, but the staff will likely secure one.
Hampton is currently set to visit Miami, Oregon, Ohio State, and USC.
While he has shown strong interest in Miami on social media, Penn State’s proximity could be a key advantage. After losing Jerquaden Guilford’s commitment last week, the Nittany Lions would be thrilled to add Hampton as a replacement in this cycle.
3. Alex Haskell (DL, St. Joe’s Prep High School, PA)
Alex Haskell is an underrated prospect and possibly the best player on a loaded St. Joe’s Prep roster. On February 6, he released a top-four list featuring Penn State, Duke, Michigan, and Syracuse.
Haskell has kept his recruitment relatively quiet, with little social media activity in recent months. Many believe he is vastly underrated, and Penn State would love to add him to the 2026 class.
Landing Haskell is not just about his individual talent—it could also open doors for future St. Joe’s Prep recruits. Historically, Penn State has struggled to pull top talent from the Philadelphia powerhouse, making Haskell a pivotal target.
2. Khary Adams (CB, Loyola Blakefield High School, MD)
Khary Adams is one of the top cornerback prospects in the country, ranking No. 78 in the 247Sports Composite. Penn State is heavily invested in his recruitment, but he has official visits lined up with Oregon, Auburn, USC, South Carolina, and Notre Dame in addition to the Nittany Lions.
Although Penn State is the closest school geographically, NIL opportunities at other programs could complicate things. The Nittany Lions must avoid a repeat of the Brandon Finney situation from the 2025 class and do everything possible to secure Adams.
1. Joey O’Brien (SAF, La Salle College High School, PA)
Joey O’Brien is arguably the most important target in Penn State’s 2026 class.
The four-star safety ranks in the top 100 of the 247Sports Composite and possesses elite athleticism as both a football and basketball player.
O’Brien projects as a safety at Penn State, but some schools may view him as a wide receiver. He has scheduled official visits with Oregon, Clemson, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Ohio State, and Penn State, with his Happy Valley visit set for mid-May. While not ideal timing for Penn State, the Nittany Lions remain firmly in the mix alongside Clemson and Notre Dame.
If Penn State fails to land O’Brien, it could put a damper on an otherwise promising 2026 class.
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