2026 DL Tavian Branch decommits from Penn State

Taylor (Pa.) Riverside three-star defensive lineman Tavian Branch has decommitted from Penn State, he tells Rivals’ Chad Simmons.

He was pledged to the Nittany Lions since Sept. 6, but is now back on the board after PSU fired head coach James Franklin in October. Franklin has since been hired by Virginia Tech.

After initially staying in the fold for PSU once Franklin was initially relieved of his duties, Branch began to hear from other programs. He’s now fully re-opened his process with the early signing period two weeks away.

“It definitely does change my thoughts on Penn State,” Branch told Rivals once news broke that Franklin was out in Happy Valley. “I will talk it over with my team tomorrow and see from there.”

Branch is the No. 599 overall prospect and No. 66 DL in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 15 recruit in Pennsylvania.

Rivals, however, is much higher on him than others in the industry. In the newly updated Rivals300 rankings, he checks in as the nation’s No. 39 defensive lineman and a high three-star prospect.

Ole Miss, Auburn, Virginia Tech are strong contenders for Branch

Since Franklin’s departure, Branch has already taken an official visit to Ole Miss and is expected to visit Auburn next weekend for the Iron Bowl. The Rebels made a big first impression on the Pennsylvania native.

“I didn’t know about the culture or how they do things, but I liked it a lot,” he told Simmons after his visit. “They run an NFL-style defense. I like how they operate and how they do things on defense — they produce defensive linemen.”

He added: “I loved the game… the energy was crazy,” Branch told Rivals. “It was a close game, and I loved the energy in Oxford. The atmosphere was electric.”

Auburn, despite not having a head coach, is also very much in the mix.

“Auburn has one of the best defenses in the SEC,” Branch told Simmons. “Their defensive line is really excelling too. I talk to Coach Vontrell King a lot… He’s a great guy, and we’ve had a relationship for a long time. … They’re looking for a head coach right now too, but Coach Durkin is a great defensive coach. He got on the phone with me right after Coach Freeze was fired, and that meant a lot.”

Branch also confirmed to Simmons that he is in contact with Franklin and potentially looking to set up a visit with the Hokies.