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Jackson Ford decides today: Will the Pa., four-star pick Penn State?

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel06/27/25GregPickel
Jackson Ford by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --
Jackson Ford (Mick Walker/Lettermen Row)

UPDATE: Ford has picked Penn State.

Original story:

Penn State is one of four schools left in the running for On300 member and Phoenixville, Pa., Malvern Prep four-star defensive end Jackson Ford, who decides today. The Nittany Lions start Friday with 20 verbal commitments in the Class of 2026. Two of them are defensive linemen: Philadelphia three-star Alex Haskell and Delaware three-star Isaac Chukwurah. Will they add Ford to the list?

Get ready for his announcement with our preview below.

When is Jackson Ford picking his college home?

Ford will make his decision public at 12 p.m. ET. Update: His decision will be announced on Instagram. You can see it here.

Who are the contenders besides Penn State?

Ford is down to Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. He took official visits to all of those schools, starting with the Baders on May 30. He saw the Lions the following weekend. The defender then trekked to Columbus to see the Buckeyes on June 13 and finished his summer tour with a stop in Ann Arbor to meet with Sherrone Moore’s Wolverines’ staff on June 20.

The On3 Industry Rankings call Ford a four-star who is the nation’s No. 216 player, No. 26 edge, and No. 7 player in the state of Pennsylvania. On3’s own scouting team is in the same ballpark as its peers. In its rankings, he is Nos. 253, 28, and 7, respectively.

What does the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine say?

Powered by expert picks from On3 Vice President of Transfer Portal and Recruiting Steve Wiltfong, On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, and Blue-White Illustrated insiders Sean Fitz and Ryan Snyder, Penn State has a commanding lead in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine to start the day. All four picks were entered this week after intel was gathered following Ford’s official visit trips.

You’ll want to check The Lions Den forum throughout the day for more on Ford’s announcement.

What has Ford said about the Nittany Lions?

In an interview with On3’s Chad Simmons, Ford raved about his official visit ot Penn State.

“The visit was great overall,” Ford said. “The energy on campus was real, and being around the team and staff made it feel like a place I could see myself fitting in. Everything felt big-time, but still personal.

“The first thing is what they can provide for me and my development. Another one is that the future of the program is very, very bright, with a lot of upside with the current players and also the players coming in. The community stands out too. From everyone who is currently at Penn State to the alumni who still contribute to the success of the program and the people in it.”

Where can I learn the latest on Ford’s announcement throughout the day?

Blue-White Illustrated subscribers can learn more all day long inside The Lions Den forum. Not a subscriber but want to become one? Follow THIS LINK to sign up for Blue-White Illustrated for just $1 for one week of access to premium team news, insider recruiting intel, the latest Penn State transfer portal news, the Lions Den message board, and so much more. 

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