Penn State commit cancels visits, reconfirms pledge following Seider’s departure

Messiah Mickens will not explore his options after all. On Saturday, the 2026 Penn State football running back pledge announced that he will not take official visits to other programs this summer, locking in his commitment to the Nittany Lions.

“Sometimes, you just know where home is,” he said after visiting with the Nittany Lions during spring practice on Saturday.

Sometimes you just know where home is!!
🦁🦁#weare https://t.co/YfgdDzQ9FZ

— Messiah Mickens (@messiah_mickens) March 29, 2025

Mickens had originally shut down his recruitment in January. However, the four-star Harrisburg (PA) running back had a change of heart following longtime assistant Ja’Juan Seider’s move to Notre Dame in February.

In addition to Seider and the Fighting Irish, Mickens had also scheduled an official visit with Bill Belichick and North Carolina in recent weeks.

Joining the Nittany Lions’ class in August 2023, Mickens was the first commitment for Penn State football in the 2026 recruiting cycle. He is the No. 10 running back and the fourth-ranked prospect in Pennsylvania for 2026, according to On3.

It wasn’t just Mickens who doubled down on his support for the Nittany Lions this weekend. James Franklin and new running backs coach Stan Drayton were also able to get McKeesport (PA) four-star Kemon Spell, the top running back in the 2027 cycle, to reaffirm his commitment to the program.

A busy in-state recruiting weekend in Happy Valley, Penn State football also landed Seton-La Salle’s Khalil Taylor, the No. 2 wide receiver in 2027.

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.