No. 1 cornerback in 2026 cycle eyeing Penn State football as college choice

The Penn State football team continues to push on the recruiting trail. Looking at the home schedule this summer, many wondered where the recruiting opportunities would come from in September. But with ‘White Out…Energy ‘in the forecast for Saturday night against Illinois, a prime recruiting opportunity has presented itself. A prospect that the Nittany Lions will be keying on beyond this weekend is Elbert Hill in the 2026 recruiting class who reached his final ten schools on Friday.

Elbert Hill is a top-20 prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. The Akron(Ohio) native is starting to zero in on his college decision. He told Hayes Fawcett of On3 on Friday afternoon that he is down to his final ten schools. He is considering Ohio State, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan, Texas A&M, USC, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Penn State football.

Hill has taken five visits during his recruitment to Happy Valley with his latest coming this past April. According to On3, Hill is the No. 1 cornerback in the 2026 recruiting class and the No. 1 player in Ohio (No. 13 overall nationally). Penn State has that chance to land one of the best prospects in the country if they can continue to recruit Hill.

NEWS: Elite 2026 CB Elbert Hill is down to 🔟 Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 5’10 180 CB from Akron, OH is ranked as the No. 1 CB in the ‘26 Class (per On3)

Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/zAZwpctYzg pic.twitter.com/wztw8At3UE

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 27, 2024

Penn State football to host elite 2027 prospect

Credit: Grace Carella // Basic Blues Nation, 2023.

Against Illinois on Saturday the Nittany Lions are slated to host one of the top prospects in the 2027 recruiting class. Lucas Rhoa is scheduled to return to Happy Valley to see Penn State under the lights.

Rhoa has been evaluated by On3 where they rank him as the No. 3 interior offensive lineman in his class and the No. 10 player in California (No. 49 nationally). He recently told Ryan Snyder of On3 that he has deep family ties to Central, PA although he’s a currently California native.

“My dad’s family is from Central, PA,” Rhoa told Ryan Snyder. “My dad went to Penn State as did my uncles, aunts, and cousins.I have been watching and attending Penn State games for as long as I can remember.”

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