Penn State wrestling lands 2026 heavyweight Elijah Brown on National Signing Day

Penn State wrestling is adding to its Class of 2026 on National Signing Day. The Nittany Lions picked up Belle Vernon, Pa., heavyweight Elijah Brown on Wednesday. He is signing with the school and is the third member of the team’s latest signing class.

“Proud to continue my athletic and academic career at Pennsylvania State University,” Brown wrote on Instagram. “Excited for what’s ahead!”

Brown was previously committed to Pitt. He left the Panthers’ Class of 2026 back on Oct. 1.

“First, I would like to thank the University of Pittsburgh and its staff for their belief in me and the opportunity they provided,” Brown wrote on Twitter at the time. “After careful thought, I have decided to decommit and reopen my recruitment. I look forward to finding the best fit for my future.”

Brown is No. 28 on MatScout’s senior big board for the Class of 2026 and the No. 6 heavyweight. Penn State currently has three heavyweights on its roster: Senior Lucas Cochran pluys two redshirt freshman in Cole Mirasola and Dawson Bundy. Mirasola and Cochran are battling the Lions’ 285-pound starting spot right now.

“Two really good guys that we feel very comfortable with,” head coach Cael Sanderson said on Tuesday. “Lucas was a guy who had a lot of opportunities. He graduated, and we’re very grateful to see him come back. And it just makes sense for him to move up the heavyweight just because of the depth that we have at ’97.

“He looks good. He’s tall. He’s had success at heavyweight. So we have a lot of confidence in him. Obviously, Cole made the U20 World Team. Wrestled great. Just very consistent, and obviously talented.”

Penn State wrestling expects to sign three Class of 2026 recruits

Penn State has three commitments in the Class of 2026. Brown joins Johnstown, Pa., Bishop McCort middle weight Sam Herring and Delbarton, N.J., upperweight Jayden James. The latter won a U17 World Championship this summer after winning the 150-pound New Jersey state title last winter. He projects to compete between 165-174 pounds during his senior season.

James is No. 3 on MatScout’s Class of 2026 big board. Herring, the PA Class 2A third-place finisher at 139 pounds a year ago, is No. 22. And Brown is No. 28, as noted above. He gives Penn State a needed number at heavyweight. Per PA-Wrestling, Brown is 127-19 so far in high school and won the Pennsylvania Class 3A title at 215 pounds last season and the 190-pound title at Fargo last summer.