Penn State’s 2026 class has been picked through since athletic director Pat Kraft fired James Franklin back in October, and now Franklin is circling back for what’s left. The Nittany Lions’ former head coach, now installed at Virginia Tech, hosted multiple Penn State commits at Lane Stadium for Virginia Tech’s Week 13 loss to Miami, and on Tuesday night, he landed his first commitment.
The flip came from four-star running back Messiah Mickens, a Harrisburg, PA, native. According to 247Sports Composite Rankings, Mickens was the highest-rated player still in Penn State’s 2026 class, and losing him is a massive blow for the program and whoever takes over in Happy Valley.