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Penn State

Where do Penn State's 2026 commits rank in updated Rivals300?

Mug-Shot 4x4by: Ryan Snyder07/14/25RyanSnyderOn3
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Four-star defensive end Jackson Ford. (Credit: Chad Simmons | On3)

Penn State has nine players inside the updated Rivals300, which was released for the 2026 class on Monday. While athlete David Davis did drop out of the rankings – he was previously No. 277 nationally – the update was more positive than not for the Nittany Lions.

Most of the players stayed the same or moved just a few spots, but two of Penn State’s most recent commits, edge rushers Jackson Ford and Tyson Harley, both had positive moves upward. Ford, who resides in Phoenixville, Pa., and plays at Malvern Prep, was the biggest mover, climbing more than 60 spots to No. 191 in the rankings.

“He’s fast, so he could always turn pretty quickly and get around linemen,” said Malvern Prep head coach Dave Gueriera. “But what I loved seeing was his physicality in his pass rush. Towards the end of last football season, he showed the strength and physicality to start pushing tackles back into the pocket. That’s what excited me the most and has been great for him.

“Another thing is that Jackson is always chasing plays down. He almost runs as much as our receivers because he makes so many plays coming down the line of scrimmage. His motor is relentless. I think as he’s able to add more strength, especially in a college program like Penn State, that’s exciting. The potential is incredible.”

Harley, who plays at Gonzaga in Washington, D.C., is now the third-ranked player in the class, climbing 16 spots to No. 170 in the rankings.

“He’s quick off the snap and just really fits the type of pass rusher that Penn State has had a lot of success with recently,” said Rivals Scouting Director Charles Power. He went on to add “In my opinion, he’s kind of a hidden gem in that area of the United States. I think when we look back, he’s going to be a steal for Penn State. He’s certainly one of the best pass rushers on the East Coast.”

Aside from Davis, the only other player who moved down was running back Messiah Mickens. He dropped a modest 12 spots and still ranked among the top 150 players nationally at No. 143.

Penn State 2026 Commits in Rivals300

58) OL Kevin Brown (No Change)
143) RB Messiah Mickens (Down 12 spots from No. 131)
170) DE Tyson Harley (Up 16 spots from No. 186)
185) WR Jahsiear Rogers (No Change)
191) DE Jackson Ford (Up 62 spots from No. 253)
200) TE Pierce Petersohn (Up one spot from No. 200)
218) LB Terry Wiggins (Up one spot from No. 219)
222) OL Marlen Bright (Up one spot from No. 223)
273) LB Mathieu Lamah (No Change)

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