Penn State Football’s 2026 Recruiting Class Gains Momentum
Penn State football’s 2026 recruiting class continues to grow. When Matt Campbell took over the job, Penn State only had two players signed.
Now, it still only has two players signed, but the difference is that seven former Iowa State signees are now committed. Penn state still has work to do between now and national signing day, which is scheduled for Feb. 4. But the program quadrupling its recruiting Class in less than three weeks is a good start.
here’s a breakdown of the 2026 Penn State recruiting Class so far, with more help presumably on the way.
Bekkemenga Falzone – Quarterback
Falzone’s recruiting story was the opposite of most in Penn State’s original 2026 class. Most of those players committed to Penn State when James Franklin was the coach and de-committed after he was fired. Falzone flipped to Auburn while Franklin was still the coach and signed with Penn state when the school was still looking for his replacement. Auburn had its own coaching turmoil with Hugh Freeze being fired mid season.
The Nazareth, PA, native decided to stay close to home, and as a result, Penn State has a four-star QB signed to its Class of 2026.
Anthony Ford – EDGE
Ford is the highest-rated recruit in Penn State’s 2026 class, and he’s the only one who never wavered from his commitment Penn Sate. Ford is the No. 8 overall player in PA per 247Sports, the No. 27 EDGE in the country and the No. 240 player nationally.
Ford explained to NSN why he stuck with Penn State in a November exclusive interview.
“I feel like Penn State is bound to get a great coach and they’re bound to bounce back,” Ford said.”I feel like you can only hold down a good program like Penn State for so long. They’re bound to bounce back. They’re bound to prove everyone wrong,and I feel that if you can see that as a recruit and have that faith,I feel like when you get here,it’s just going to elevate your mindset. You’re going to want to work 10 times harder than you already worked, just to prove someone wrong. It puts a chip on your shoulder, and in football, it’s always good to have a chip on your shoulder. Helps motivate you, helps you play harder, puts you in a grind mindset. So I just think it’s a positive. You just stick with the program.”
Jamel Williams – safety
Williams, a three-star safety, was the first player to commit to Penn State in the Campbell era.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Williams originally committed to Iowa State in June after taking an official visit. He also visited Washington State and Vanderbilt before reopening his recruitment.
While Minnesota and Purdue looked to land Williams, Penn State’s relationship with Campbell and defensive backs coach Deon Broomfield ultimately positioned Penn State favorably.
The son of Jamel Williams, a member of nebraska’s mid-1990s national championship teams who later played in the NFL with Washington and Green Bay. During Williams’ senior season at Westside High School, recording 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, and six interceptions. He also contributed offensively, catching 23 passes for 41 yards.
Penn State Football Recruiting Surge: Former Iowa State Commitments Lead the Way
Penn State’s recruiting class is experiencing a significant boost following the hiring of head coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State. Several players who had previously committed to the Cyclones have flipped their commitments to join the Nittany Lions.
Special Teams Addition: Lucas Wilhelm
Penn State has added a highly-regarded punter in Lucas Wilhelm. Scouts praise his ability to drive the ball deep with significant hang time (4.0+ seconds).He was named a Navy All-American Bowl Punter and is described as a “fine young man” and a “strong combo prospect” who is expected to excel at the collegiate level and beyond.
Quarterback Depth: Kase Evans
Adding to the offensive firepower, penn State has secured the commitment of quarterback Kase Evans, a three-star recruit from Lexington, Texas.Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell highlighted evans’ impressive performance during the playoffs, noting he threw for nearly 300 yards and rushed for almost 200 in a single game. https://247sports.com/player/drew-bandhauer-371111/
Linebacker Joins the nittany Lions: Keian kaiser
Linebacker Keian Kaiser of Sidney, Nebraska, has become the first linebacker commit in penn State’s evolving recruiting class. Kaiser initially committed to Iowa State but requested a release after Campbell’s move to Penn State. He announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on Christmas Eve via X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/keiank09/status/1737779999999963321
Eglitis Enrolling Soon
Defensive end Anthony Eglitis,a three-star recruit with 20 scholarship offers,plans to enroll at Penn State in the coming weeks. While he originally committed to Iowa State, the coaching change prompted him to consider other options. He previously visited Louisville[https://wwwespncom/college-football/team/[https://wwwespncom/college-football/team//id/97/louisville-cardinals]and had planned a visit to Pittsburgh[https://wwwespncom/college-football/team/[https://wwwespncom/college-football/team//id/221/pittsburgh-panthers]before committing to Penn State.
These commitments signal a strong start to Matt Campbell’s tenure at Penn State and demonstrate his ability to quickly build a competitive recruiting class.Six former Iowa State signees have now chosen to continue their football careers with the Nittany Lions.
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