Four-star offensive tackle Marlen Bright flips commitment from Penn State to Virginia Tech

Four-star offensive lineman Marlen Bright was one of the firmer commitments in Penn State’s Class of 2026 throughout the past few months. However, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound offensive tackle will no longer end up in Happy Valley, confirming on Thursday that he’s switched his commitment to Virginia Tech. The announcement comes just a few days after he took an official visit to Blacksburg to spend time with new Hokies head coach James Franklin.

A Rivals300 prospect from Wayne, N.J., Bright didn’t formally commit to Penn State until early July, but the DePaul Catholic prospect was heavily leaning in PSU’s favor well before, totaling nine visits to Penn State from June 2023 to April 2025. He did take official visits to Illinois and West Virginia in April, and at one point, planned to take official visits to Syracuse and Washington as well. However, he cancelled those visits back in the summer when it was clear he was going to Penn State.

But following the decision to hire a new head coach, Bright took an unofficial visit to Illinois, Nov. 1-2, as well as an official visit to Washington, Nov. 15-17.

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“We love PSU or we wouldn’t have committed,” said Michael Bright, Marlen’s father, shortly after the decision. “But that love was a two-way street, and now that one lane is closed. We need to know that, when it reopens, that love is reciprocal with the new staff. You can’t be somewhere you’re not wanted or treated fairly.”

Bright is ranked No. 269 nationally in the Rivals300. He’s the 29th-ranked offensive tackle and No. 4 overall in New Jersey. He was primarily recruited to Penn State by offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.

“Marlen Bright is a versatile offensive lineman who stands out when he’s working on the move,” said Rivals Scouting Director Charles Power. “This is a guy who has plus length at offensive tackle. He really carries his weight well, can get to the perimeter and get to the second level. I think he’s strong as a zone blocker. He has a lot of developmental attributes that we like about him moving forward, especially as he continues to fill out his frame.”

Bright is now the third former commit to join Franklin at Virginia Tech. Four-star running back Messiah Mickens was the first to make that move earlier this week. Three-star offensive lineman Roseby Lubintus, who originally decommitted from Penn State only to then recommit silently during this year’s White Out game, will also play for the Hokies.