Penn State football recruiting has been a rollercoaster ride this week. The Nittany Lions initially gained momentum after securing commitments from top defensive backs on their list. However, their excitement was short-lived when running back Alvin Henderson flipped to Auburn and linebacker DJ McClary decommitted and joined Rutgers’ recruiting class.
Despite the setbacks, Penn State was able to quickly regroup. They landed a commitment from in-state four-star running back Jabree Wallace-Coleman as well as safety Braswell Thomas, which kept their recruiting momentum going strong. Additionally, they secured another four-star recruit in edge rusher Cortez Harris from Maryland, who becomes the first defensive lineman commit for the team in this class.
Harris, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect, visited Penn State over the weekend and ultimately chose them over Maryland and Tennessee. His decision was influenced by the strong relationship he developed with Deion Barnes, a coach at Penn State. Harris’s commitment brings Penn State’s total number of commitments to 17, putting them on track to potentially have a Top 10 class.
The pressure is on Barnes to start securing recruits on the defensive line, and Harris’s commitment is seen as the first step in that direction. The team is optimistic about their recruiting efforts moving forward and is determined to continue their success in landing top talent. Keep up with Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads for the latest updates on Penn State football recruiting.