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Penn State adds Delaware defensive lineman Isaac Chukwurah to 2026 class

Mug-Shot 4x4by: Ryan Snyder04/22/25RyanSnyderOn3
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Defensive lineman Isaac Chukwurah. (Photo Credit: Andre L. Smith | André El Photography)

Penn State offered defensive lineman and Delaware native Isaac Chukwurah on Friday. Now, just a few days later, he’s the 12th player to join the Nittany Lions’ Class of 2026.

Listed at 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, Chukwurah had an impressive junior season, totaling 65 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in 13 games, leading Caravel Academy to a state championship.

Those efforts grabbed the attention of multiple Group of Five programs in December and January. Wake Forest then became the first Power Four program to offer in March. Boston College and Virginia Tech followed not long after.

Chukwurah’s first visit to Penn State came on April 9. Following that, he was given the option to camp with Penn State’s staff in June. However, they also informed him of the virtual combine that they created back in 2020. He decided to follow through with that opportunity, and needless to say, defensive line coach Deion Barnes liked what we saw.

“They wanted to match my film to my [testing] numbers to see how athletic I am at this size,” Chukwurah said. “So, Coach Franklin gave me and my trainer a virtual combine to complete when I got back [from my first visit]. They used to give this out during COVID. When I got back, I got that done asap and that definitely helped me get the offer, 100 percent.”

That led Chukwurah to visit Penn State again this past Friday. That’s when the Nittany Lions decided to offer.

“I knew there was a chance that I’d get the offer because Coach Franklin and Coach Deion have shown a lot of interest,” he said. “They really got to the point as soon as I got to [Franklin’s] office, since I was just there a week or two ago. They just reiterated how much they like me, my film and my combine numbers. After that, Coach Franklin extended the offer.”

Another reason Penn State wanted him to return to campus on Friday instead of offering him over the phone was to observe practice, as his visit last Wednesday coincided with an off day.

“Coach Deion coaches in a way that is easy to understand and learn quickly,” Chukwurah said. “Since he is a younger coach and played at a high level, he can tell you the drill and what to do, but he can also show you the drill himself. That’s one of the things I liked most.”

Chukwurah is now the third player from Delaware to commit to Penn State, joining 2026 wide receiver Jahsiear Rogers and 2027 offensive lineman Layton von Brandt. With 12 commitments total, the Nittany Lions have an even split of six offensive players and six defensive players. Edge rusher Daniel Jennings is currently the only other defensive lineman in the class.

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