This week has been a whirlwind for James Franklin and the Penn State football program on the recruiting trail. Initially, there was a lot of momentum as they secured commitments from standout defensive backs who were their top targets. However, things took a turn when running back Alvin Henderson, who they thought had committed, flipped to Auburn. This was followed by linebacker DJ McClary decommitting and joining Rutgers’ recruiting class.
Fortunately, Penn State had a backup plan in place for Henderson. They received a commitment from in-state four-star running back Jabree Wallace-Coleman and also landed safety Braswell Thomas. Despite the setbacks, Franklin and his staff continued to recruit well.
Adding to their success, Penn State secured a commitment from four-star edge rusher Cortez Harris from Maryland. Harris, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect, visited the campus last weekend for an official visit. He is ranked as the 26th-best player at his position and No. 288 in the 2025 cycle by On3’s Industry Ranking. Harris is the first defensive lineman commit in the Nittany Lions’ class.
With Harris’ commitment, Penn State now has 17 commits and is close to breaking into the Top 10 classes. Harris cited the strong relationship he built with Deion Barnes as a major reason for choosing Penn State over Maryland and Tennessee. Barnes had been under pressure to recruit defensive linemen for this cycle, and Harris is the first step in that direction.
Overall, it seems that Penn State is on a hot streak in recruiting, with more commitments possibly on the horizon. Stay tuned for more updates from Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.