Penn State adds in-state defensive tackle Tavian Branch to 2026 class

Penn State added one of its top in-state prospects on Saturday with the addition of defensive tackle Tavian Branch. Listed at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, Branch earned an offer from the Nittany Lions in July 2024 after camping with the staff multiple times last summer.

At the time, Branch was considered an interior offensive line recruit, but that started to shift last fall when the Taylor, Pa., native showed how his athleticism could be used on the defensive side of the ball.

Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes warmed up to that idea this past spring, but Branch decided not to take an official visit to State College in June. Instead, he narrowed his list of more than two dozen scholarship offers to Oklahoma and Rutgers and eventually committed to the Scarlet Knights. That changed last Friday when Branch decided to reopen his recruitment.

Now, with Branch currently on campus for that official visit that he passed on a few months ago, the Riverside prospect decided not to waste any time, committing to the Nittany Lions before the game against Florida International this morning.

“I knew where I wanted to be. I want to be at Penn State,” Branch said. “The more I thought about things — realizing where I want to be, what my goals are, and how I want to be developed into a top defensive lineman — I knew Penn State was the right place for me.”

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Through three games this season, Branch has totaled 15 tackles, including seven tackles for loss. He also has three sacks, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a blocked field goal.

“His raw athleticism stands out immensely,” said Riverside head coach Harry Armstrong. “He has incredible twitch and explosiveness for a 300-pounder. His footwork is fantastic. He can change direction with the best of them.”

“But on top of the speed and athleticism, his hands and his power are extraordinary. It’s just a matter of time until he learns how to use that part of his game at a higher level. When he strikes, it’s powerful. He’s explosive with it. It’s hard for him to really utilize that when he’s being doubled and even triple-teamed at times in high school, but when he gets that opportunity, it’s awesome to watch.”

Branch is now the third defensive tackle in Penn State’s class, joining Isaac Chukwurah, from Caravel Academy in Delaware, and Alex Haskell from St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. Just like Chukwurah and Haskell, Branch is a three-star prospect at all three recruiting sites. He’s ranked No. 556 nationally, No. 61 at defensive tackle and No. 15 in Pennsylvania according to Rivals’ Industry Rankings.