Amauri Polydor flips commitment from Penn State to Virginia Tech

Penn State lost another commitment in its Class of 2026 today in cornerback Amauri Polydor. The 6-foot, 170-pound defensive back has decided to join former head coach James Franklin at Virginia Tech following an official visit to Blacksburg over the weekend.

A three-star prospect, Polydor was previously set to be the first player the Nittany Lions had signed from Baltimore powerhouse St. Frances Academy. After earning an offer from Penn State cornerback coach Terry Smith in February, the Nittany Lions became the team to beat almost immediately.

Unofficial visits to Maryland and Michigan State in April gave him something to consider, but by then, it was clear that Penn State was the heavy favorite. His visit to State College during the first week of June ended up being the only official visit. That is, until recently.

Link: Four-star QB Peyton Falzone signs with Penn State on National Signing Day

After finishing his senior season, Polydor took an official visit to Boulder, Colo., to meet with Deion Sanders and his staff at Colorado. However, it was his connection with Franklin that ultimately won out.

“Amauri Polydor is a good athlete and shows the ability to track the football in coverage,” said Rivals Scouting Director Charles Power. “Those are the two main things that have stood out to me when evaluating him up to this point. He has solid height at over six feet, and I think he’s going to continue filling out his frame.

“He’s also shown some impressive gains with his athleticism, and you could see that when you watch his junior film. Polydor is a smooth, natural mover. He’s fluid in his back pedal and looks to be very coordinated. I think that’s important when you’re evaluating a cornerback who doesn’t play a ton on offense.”

Polydor is ranked No. 533 in the Industry Rankings. He’s the 51st-ranked cornerback and 13th overall in Maryland for the 2026 class.