Former Penn State CB Jaziel Hart announces commitment elsewhere

Penn State lost four-star cornerback Jaziel Hart when he opened up his recruitment about two weeks ago, Oct. 14. Now, the Class of 2026 prospect has decided not to waste any time with his next commitment, announcing on Monday that he’s now committed to North Carolina.

Listed at 6-foot, 170 pounds, Hart committed to the Nittany Lions in May and held firm with that decision throughout. However, with the uncertainty surrounding who will take over the program after the firing of James Franklin, Hart said he had no choice but to open up his recruitment fully.

“I felt it was my best interest to decommit because of the safety of my recruitment and the place Penn State has been put in,” Hart told Blue White Illustrated. “This is God’s plan, and I’ll follow his guidance to choose my next university to play football and get my degree.”

Throughout his recruitment, the Roanoke (Va.) North Cross prospect earned more than two dozen scholarship offers. He also visited over a dozen different programs, including multiple trips to Indiana, Michigan, N.C. State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

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Hart announced the day he decommitted that North Carolina had offered, with Michigan State also extending an offer the following day. Hart then set an official visit to Chapel Hill for Nov. 22-23. However, it’s clear now he knows where he wants to be.

Hart is one of seven former commits to back away from their commitment. He’s also the third former 2026 commit to switch his commitment elsewhere, joining defensive lineman Alex Haskell, who announced last week that he’s now committed to Syracuse, as well as wide receiver Jahsiear Rogers, who committed to Oklahoma Monday morning after taking an official visit to Norman this past weekend.

According to Rivals, Hart is the 34th-ranked cornerback and No. 6 overall in Virginia.