Longest-standing Penn State football commit sets official visit with Ja’Juan Seider, Notre Dame

Messiah Mickens has been committed to Penn State football since August of 2023. This summer, the Nittany Lions’ relationship with the Harrisburg (PA) running back will be put to the test by a former member of the program.

On Friday morning, Mickens announced that he has scheduled an official visit with Notre Dame. According to 247Sports, that trip to South Bend is set for the weekend of June 20.

Of course, the Fighting Irish running backs room is now led by longtime Penn State assistant Ja’Juan Seider, who left in early February to fill the same role on the Notre Dame staff.

☘️☘️ @coachseider @Marcus_Freeman1 pic.twitter.com/6GzSpvypPi

— Messiah Mickens (@Messiah_1M) March 14, 2025

Last month, Mickens expressed that he would explore his options following Seider’s departure from Happy Valley. However, he still remains committed to the Nittany Lions. The four-star running back is set to take his official visit with Penn State football on the weekend of May 30.

“He wants to make me the best back in the country and develop me,” Mickens said of new Penn State running backs coach Stan Drayton.

The On3 Industry Rankings rate Mickens as the No. 4 player in Pennsylvania. The longest-standing pledge for Penn State football in the 2026 recruiting cycle, he is the second-highest ranked commitment for the Nittany Lions in the class behind Harrisburg teammate Kevin Brown. Penn State currently has the No. 8 class in the country for the cycle.

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