Penn State 4-star RB commit Messiah Mickens re-opens recruitment

Penn State parted ways with longtime head coach James Franklin on Sunday, sending a shockwave through the Nittany Lions’ 2026 recruiting class.

There have been some decommitments, but a wave of PSU pledges have opted to remain in the class while “re-opening” their process. Harrisburg (Pa.) four-star running back Messiah Mickens is the latest to do just that.

Mickens has been committed to Penn State longer than anyone. He originally chose the program on Aug. 19, 2023 and has remained solid despite a position coach change last year. On Tuesday, he told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett that his process has now re-opened.

“Grateful for everything! But due to unexpected times me and family believes it’s best to re-open my recruitment. Coaches my DM’s are open,” Mickens wrote on X.

In addition, Mickens told Fawcett that the following seven programs have kept close contact: Georgia, Miami, Missouri, Ohio State, Rutgers, South Carolina and Syracuse. Official visits could be on the table, too.

Mickens is the No. 180 overall prospect and No. 14 RB 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. 5 player in Pennsylvania.

The 5-foot-10.5, 210-pounder and his Harrisburg teammate, four-star interior offensive lineman Kevin Brown, are the two highest-ranked prospects in Penn State’s 2026 class. The Nittany Lions have lost commitments from four-star wide receiver Davion Brown, three-star WR Lavar Keys and Rivals four-star cornerback Jaziel Hart thus far in the senior cycle following the firing of Franklin.

In the 2027 cycle, PSU is back to zero commits. Five-star running back Kemon Spell, elite four-star offensive tackle Layton von Brandt and four-star linebacker Gabe Jenkins have each decommitted, too.

Many Penn State commits that have “re-opened” their recruitments have begun adding new offers this week. With the December signing period around seven weeks away, it remains to be seen how much turnover there will be for PSU down the stretch. Rivals’ Adam Gorney has the latest on some of those recruitments.

Penn State fires James Franklin

In the middle of his 12th season at the helm, Franklin saw his tenure end after a loss to Northwestern over the weekend.

Franklin leaves State College with a 104-45 record since 2014 when he took the job. He is 128-60 overall as a head coach, which includes his three-year stint at Vanderbilt (24-15). Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season.

A gut-wrenching overtime loss to Oregon on Sept. 27 has spiraled into a three-game skid for the Nittany Lions. They went to Los Angeles and lost to a then-winless UCLA team that had just fired its head coach. Northwestern then went to Beaver Stadium and stunned PSU 22-21 on Saturday, dropping the preseason No. 2 team in the nation to 0-3 in Big Ten play and 3-3 overall.

Entering Sunday, the Nittany Lions had 25 commits in their 2026 class that ranks No. 16 nationally, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Of those 25 commits, 11 are four-star prospects.

Rivals garnered reactions from Penn State commits as the former national title contender navigates what’s quickly turned into a nightmarish season.

This story will be updated.