Certainly one of Penn State’s once-prized in-state recruits within the Class of 2026 is heading South to be with the person largely chargeable for recruiting him. Working again Messiah Mickens has confirmed his up to date dedication to Virginia Tech, thus selecting to observe James Franklin to Blacksburg slightly than keep nearer to house with the Nittany Lions.
Penn State shedding Mickens to Virginia Tech and Franklin is hardly a surprising improvement. Following Franklin’s elimination as head coach in Blissful Valley, Mickens was among the many notable recruits who backed off their dedication to the Nittany Lions. That is sometimes the norm when a training change occurs, particularly halfway via the season, as a result of a participant ought to take the time to guage their state of affairs and their potential college’s route in these circumstances. Mickens had beforehand said he would explore Notre Dame and North Carolina regardless of being committed to Penn State for the past two years.
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We nonetheless have no idea who might be named the following head coach of Penn State, though there’s a rising quantity of assist for the inner hiring of interim head coach Terry Smith from some vocal alumni and members of the soccer household. However a highschool recruit has a a lot completely different perspective on the state of affairs, and Franklin had a popularity for creating key relationships with recruits and their households. For Mickens, there may be doubtless some consolation in realizing he’ll nonetheless get to play for Franklin.
Although considerably anticipated, it is a powerful blow to Penn State’s Class of 2026, which is on tempo to lag behind the common recruiting courses beforehand introduced in. Because the early signing interval approaches, Penn State’s present recruiting class sits with 10 commitments nonetheless on the board.
Penn State’s Class of 2026, which had been as high as No. 6 in the nation, has plummeted all the way down to No. 86 within the total class rankings based on the updated class rankings from 247Sports. For the sake of comparability, Virginia Tech is ranked No. 120 total with 9 commitments in the mean time, together with the addition of Mickens. We’ll be protecting some tabs on Franklin’s recruiting efforts shifting ahead because it figures to have a direct impact on Penn State’s recruiting for the following couple of recruiting cycles. The fast influence could also be an important.
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One of many subsequent names in Penn State’s Class of 2026 to observe is four-star security Matt Sieg, from McDonald, Pennsylvania. He’s nonetheless listed as a tough decide to Penn State by 247Sports, however Sieg will make his last dedication choice official on Signing Day, and Franklin’s Virginia Tech is a powerful rising contender within the last stretch of this recruiting course of. Notre Dame can be supposedly within the combine.
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This text initially appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State loses key in-state commit to James Franklin
