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Penn State

Four-star CB Jaziel Hart offically decommits from Penn State

Mug-Shot 4x4by: Ryan Snyder10/14/25RyanSnyderOn3
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Cornerback Jaziel Hart. (Credit: Ryan Snyder | Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State lost another four-star prospect in its Class of 2026 on Tuesday morning in cornerback Jaziel Hart. 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, plus just 51 days remaining until the early signing period, Hart believes 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.”

Just over a week ago, following the loss against UCLA, Hart made it clear that he still had faith in the coaching staff’s ability to turn this around.

“I feel like the staff will be good because they’ve kept a consistent winning record over the years,” Hart said. “Just because they lose one game like that doesn’t make them trash. I feel like people have to get the fact that it’s college football and everyone wants to play their best game. When a team plays against a top-ranked team, they want to play even better.

“Beating Penn State was probably like the national championship for them. I do see the statistics in Coach Franklin’s wins and losses against top-ranked teams, but I feel like the 1-0 mindset will bring them back together.”

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.

Hart is now the third former commit to open up his recruitment, joining four-star wide receiver Davion Brown and three-star wideout Lavar Keys. A host of additional Penn State commits have announced they are reopening their recruitments but have decided to stay committed for the time being.

He’s the 34th-ranked cornerback and No. 6 overall in Virginia according to Rivals.