Penn State adds four-star edge rusher Jackson Ford to 2026 class

Penn State filled an important need at edge rusher Friday, adding Malvern Prep’s Jackson Ford to its Class of 2026. Listed at just under 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Ford picked up an offer from the Nittany Lions nearly a year ago after earning it during the staff’s Whiteout Camp last July. Since then, the Phoenixville, Pa., native has been one of Deion Barnes’ most important targets at the position.

“I feel like the connection between me and Coach Barnes has been building for a while now and is really strong,” Ford said. “We’ve been talking for over a year now. Penn State was one of my first big offers. But since then, the plan that he’s laid out there and has shown me and my parents has been really impactful. He sees my upside and plans to build on that over the coming years.

“So, between that, and really just the connection I’ve built with Coach Barnes and Coach [James] Franklin, that played a big part.”

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A consensus four-star prospect at all four major recruiting sites, Ford totaled more than two dozen scholarship offers throughout his recruitment. His five visits to Penn State since July 2024 were the most to any school, but he also took unofficial visits to a dozen different programs, including Alabama, Miami and Tennessee.

Eventually, as his list began to narrow, Ford took his first official visit to Stanford in April. Kentucky also hosted him for a midweek official visit the first week of June, but his list of schools ultimately came down to four Big Ten programs: Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan. In the end, his decision came down to Penn State and Wisconsin.

“Penn State is in-state, three hours away, and so my parents will be able to come to all of my games,” Ford said. “As I thought about it, I felt like I should stay at home. I felt completely confident in that decision.”

Ford is currently the only edge rusher committed in the 2026 class, although it should be noted that four-star prospect Daniel Jennings reclassified as a 2025 recruit. He’ll now enroll at Penn State later this summer. The Nittany Lions are still involved with five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows, among others, but the name most have circled currently is Meadows’ teammate at Gonzaga, four-star Tyson Harley. He’s expected to announce next Saturday, July 5.

According to On3’s Industry Rankings, which are used to determine the Team Recruiting Rankings, Ford is the fourth-ranked player in Penn State’s class. He’s ranked No. 217 nationally, No. 26 at defensive end and No. 7 overall in Pennsylvania.