Penn State football staff makes West Coast visit to five-star defender

Penn State football is continuing its pursuit of the nation’s top cornerback as his decision date nears. The Nittany Lions staff kicked off the holiday weekend with a West Coast trip to visit five-star Mount Miguel (CA) defensive back Brandon Arrington.

On Saturday, Arrington posted a picture on social media alongside Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith. The drop-in from Smith comes on the heels of Arrington’s official visit with James Franklin and the Nittany Lions at the beginning of May.

“Penn State was better than I expected it to be,” Arrington said recently. “It was my first time there, so I didn’t know what to expect. It was just better than I thought it would be. After the visit, I can see myself there.”

Apperciate u coach for coming by 🤞🏽 @CoachTerryPSU pic.twitter.com/t26dC4ee1b

— Brandon “Dash”Arrington jr 5 🌟 (@brandonjubie2) May 24, 2025

The cycle’s No. 9 overall prospect has a busy month of June ahead, with official visits to Texas A&M, Alabama, USC, and Oregon planned. Arrington will announce his commitment in a little less than five weeks, on July 5.

“I feel like all five schools have a chance,” he said. “It’s going to be a foot race; whoever shows me the best plan and what’s best for me [will win].”

Penn State football has been on a recruiting hot streak recently, particularly on the defensive side of the line. The Nittany Lions have landed seven defenders over the last two months. Last week, four-star corner Jaziel Hart made his pledge to the Blue and White. Penn State is also expected to earn commitments from blue chip cornerbacks Dorian Barney and Khary Adams.

“The people and the place really caught my attention. Everyone loves football there,” Arrington said of the Nittany Lions staff. “It is all about Penn State, and I loved that. Then, sitting down with Coach Franklin and learning more about who he is, that was great. He and the coaching staff there know how he develops players. When they get top players, they get them coached up and developed. That is what I am looking for.”

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 basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on social media.