PA’s No. 1 recruit won’t flip Penn State football pledge despite push from Big Ten rivals

Being a top prospect is never easy in college football. Not only do you have a big decision to make, but you also have other schools constantly attempting to change your mind. Luckily for 2026 recruiting class member Messiah Mickens, he has already made his commitment to the Penn State football team. However, other schools, such as USC and Michigan, are not going away easily. On Friday afternoon, Mickens made it clear that he is locked in with the Nittany Lions.

2026 Penn State football commit re-confirms commitment to PSU

Messiah Mickens is the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. The five-star prospect made his commitment to Penn State football on August 19th, 2023. Since then, the star running back from Camp Hill, PA, has continued to grow his recognition. Not only is Mickens the top player in PA in 2026 but he is also a top-3 athlete in the class as well.

With national attention, other programs have been knocking on his door. According to Adam Gorney, the National Recruiting Director for Rivals, USC and Michigan are seriously pursuing Mickens and trying to flip his commitment.

Mickens put those rumors to rest on Friday afternoon after quote tweeting the article that spoke about USC and Michigan. He kept it simple, stating, “We are,” showing that he is not wavering in his commitment to Penn State.

🦁 we are https://t.co/4I3MCbsxDb

— Messiah Mickens (@Messiah_1M) February 16, 2024

Can the Nittany Lions land the No. 1 player in 2026?

Speaking of the 2026 recruiting class, Penn State is in the mix for the No.1 player in the class. According to Hayes Fawcett of On3, Jahkeem Stewart has brought his focus to his top 15 schools. The Nittany Lions have made the cut for Stewart.

Jahkeem Stewart is a five-star prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports and On3. He is currently ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the cycle and the No. 1 defensive lineman in the country. The 6 foot 6, 270, 270-pound prospect from New Orleans, LA, could end up in State College if Deion Barnes can continue his recruiting streak.

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