Penn State football legacy, Nittany Lions target picks up offer from in-state rival

James Franklin and Penn State football have more in-state competition for one of the top prospects in the 2026 recruiting cycle. On Tuesday, the Temple Owls entered the mix for Pittsburgh Central Catholic linebacker and Nittany Lions legacy Colsen Gatten.

Gatten now has 17 offers from programs such as Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Pitt, West Virginia, Boston College, Michigan, and Texas A&M. 

Beyond grateful to receive an offer from Temple University!! #TempleTUFF ‼️@Temple_FB @Coach_Scott31 @CoachLehmeier @PCC_FOOTBALL @210ths @theking1 @On3sports @Rivals @247Sports pic.twitter.com/vHZHtmmPlQ

— Colsen Gatten (@Colsen_Gatten) September 17, 2024

The 6-1, 210-pound linebacker has been to State College five times since earning his offer from James Franklin and the Nittany Lions in June 2023. Most recently, Gatten traveled to Beaver Stadium for Penn State’s 34-27 win over Bowling Green earlier this month.

A three-star, Colsen Gatten is the 13th-ranked prospect in the Keystone State for the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports. The outlet also ranks him as the No. 38 linebacker in the 2026 class. As a sophomore, Gatten racked up 48 tackles over 12 games for Central Catholic.

Gatten is the son of Penn State football letterman Aaron Gatten, who played linebacker for the Nittany Lions under Joe Paterno from 1996 to 2000.

James Franklin and the current Penn State staff did not receive commitments from two legacy targets, Anthony Sacca (committed to Notre Dame) and Michael Carroll (Alabama), in the 2025 cycle. They did, however, land the son of former Linebacker U great LaVar Arrington.

Colsen Gatten wasn’t the only top Nittany Lions target in the Temple Owls’ crosshairs on Tuesday. Temple also offered Fort Cherry’s Matt Sieg, the No. 12 safety nationally and No. 3 player in Pennsylvania for the 2026 recruiting cycle.

Thankful to have received an offer from Temple University‼️ 🦉 #GoOwls @TannerGarry3 @FortCherryFB @210ths @SWiltfong_ @adamgorney @ryanobleness @247Hudson @BrianDohn247 @Coach_Scott31 @CoachScheier pic.twitter.com/Xi9Iw6Hc83

— Matt Sieg 4 ⭐️ ATH (@matt_sieg) September 17, 2024

Penn State football has the No. 3 class in 247Sports’ 2026 recruiting class rankings.

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