Penn State football: 3 future quarterback targets to be familiar with

Now the dust has settled and reality has set in that 2025 QB Matt Zollers is not coming to Penn State after making his commitment to Missouri on Thursday. But, the sun did rise today and life goes on in college football recruiting. With that in mind, it’s time for the Penn State football team to pivot to the next prospect(s). Malik Washington, Dia Bell, and Faizon Brandon are three players to keep in mind over the next several months. Bell and Brandon are in the 2026 recruiting class which might be where the Nittany Lions focus for their next QB commit.

Penn State football: 3 future quarterback targets to be familiar with

Malik Washington is the next player in mind if the Penn State football team wants to add another QB in the 2025 recruiting class. Washington is from Severn, Maryland, and is a four-star prospect according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He holds a top 10 ranking among the top prospects in MD in 2025 and is a top 15 QB prospect according to 247Sports.

Standing at 6’4 200 pounds Washington brings significant athleticism to the table as he plays basketball as well. During the 2023 season on the field, he accounted for over 2000 passing yards 21 touchdown passes, and added 6 rushing touchdowns as well.

Washington’s most recent visit was on March 12th at Penn State. Now, with Matt Zollers off the board, the Nittany Lion coaching staff might make a big push toward him. Malik Washington has official visits scheduled with Maryland and UCF later this summer so if Penn State goes in this route it will not be a cakewalk to secure this prospect.

2026 quarterback targets

Another realistic option for Penn State is to push all of its chips toward the 2026 recruiting class specifically at the quarterback position. Dia Bell seems to be the most obvious answer for the future at QB. The son of 12-year NBA veteran Raja Bell has spent significant time at Penn State this spring.

He recently spoke about the relationship he has built with QB coach Danny O’Brien as well which could be a major factor. Dia Bell is currently the No. 2 QB in 2026 and the No. 1 player in Florida according to On3.

Last but certainly not least is Faizon Brandon who is the No. 1 QB in 2026 according to On3. He stepped foot on campus on March 26th and left with a scholarship offer from Penn State. While the relationship is just starting to build Faizon Brandon is a prospect who will likely return to Happy Valley this summer.

At the end of the day, keep in mind that Penn State could realistically have Drew Allar, Beau Pribula, Jaxon Smolik, Ethan Grunkemeyer, and Bekkem Krizta in the QB room in 2025 if everyone returns next season. Missing out on Matt Zollers hurts as he is from Pennsylvania but by no means does it ruin the long-term plans in Happy Valley.

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