Connect with us

FB RECRUITING

Longtime Penn State football commit sets visit with Bill Belichick, North Carolina

Six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick and North Carolina are the latest program to get a visit from longtime Penn State football commit Messiah Mickens.

Published

on

Penn State football
Mar 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels football coach Bill Belichick before the game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.

The Nittany Lions’ longest-standing commitment in the class of 2026 continues to explore his options in the wake of Ja’Juan Seider’s departure from the Penn State football program. This weekend, Harrisburg (PA) four-star running back Messiah Mickens set up another official visit for the summer, this time with Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

On Friday, Mickens announced on his social media that he will visit Chapel Hill on the weekend of June 20-22. Mickens also recently announced a visit to Notre Dame. Previously, 247Sports reported that his visit to South Bend was set for the same weekend as his now-scheduled trip to North Carolina.

Notre Dame, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Missouri were all schools Mickens expressed interest in exploring last month after Ja’Juan Seider accepted the running backs coach position with the Fighting Irish.

June will be Mickens’s first visit to North Carolina and his second to Notre Dame. He’s been to Happy Valley 19 times during his recruitment, per On3.

Penn State football currently holds eight commitments and has the No. 8 class nationally in the 2026 recruiting cycle.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!
Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media. 

Matt is a co-owner and Editor of Basic Blues Nation. Launched in 2022, Basic Blues Nation is one of the fastest-growing websites covering all Penn State athletics. Matt is also a credentialed member of the Penn State football beat, and is a member of the Football Writers Association of America.

Trending