Nation’s No. 3 recruit eyeing return to Penn State after gameday visit

Penn State football battled on the gridiron to earn a hard-fought 21-7 victory over Illinois on Saturday night. Beyond the importance on the field, the primetime win appears to have also made a significant impression on a critical Nittany Lions recruiting target in attendance. The unofficial White Out turned into a major recruiting weekend for James Franklin and the Penn State staff, but perhaps no visiting prospect was as highly touted as 2026 offensive lineman Immanuel Iheanacho.

One of the most coveted players in the 2026 recruiting cycle, Iheanacho made the trip north from Georgetown Prep (Maryland) for his first gameday visit with Penn State football. By the looks of it, Saturday night likely won’t be his last.

“Had a great game experience at Penn State today,” Iheanacho wrote on X following the Nittany Lions’ win. “Looking forward to getting back down.”

Had a great game experience at Penn State today, Looking forward to getting back down! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/XFVeCH6gJY

— Immanuel Iheanacho (@immanueli24) September 29, 2024

Immanuel Iheanacho is the No. 3 prospect in the country regardless of position in the 2026 recruiting cycle per On3’s Industry Rankings. The five-star recruit is the second-ranked offensive tackle in the class and the top player out of Maryland. The 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 4 player nationally.

Iheanacho has 30 offers from top programs such as Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Alabama, and Michigan. His first two trips to Happy Valley came in April and June of this year, according to On3.

With six commitments, James Franklin and Penn State football have the No. 2 class in the 2026 recruiting cycle.

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