Penn State football enters the mix for elite top 100 2026 prospect

The Penn State football team continues to work towards building both the 2025 and the 2026 recruiting classes. The 2025 class is off to a strong start, while the 2026 class currently holds one commitment from Messiah Mickens. Now, the Nittany Lions have made an official scholarship offer to J’Zavien Currence, who is a top 100 defensive back prospect in the 2026 recruiting class and the No. 1 player in South Carolina.

Penn State football offers elite top 100 2026 prospect

J’Zavien Currence is a consensus four-star defensive back prospect according to the On3 Industry Ranking. A native of Rock Hill, SC, Currence attends Rock Pointe High School. According to On3, Currence is the No. 1 player in South Carolina and the No. 9 safety in the 2026 recruiting class. He is also ranked as the 86th overall player in the 2026 cycle.

On3 has three SEC schools in the lead for Currence and his college decision. With the home state school of South Carolina leading for his pledge at the moment. However, on Tuesday afternoon the Penn State football team entered the battle. J’Zavien Currence announced on social media that Penn State has offered him a scholarship. If the Nittany Lions can land a player of this magnitude, that could help their efforts in building the 2026 recruiting class.

I’m blessed to have received an offer from Penn State @PennStateFball Thank you @coachjfranklin @CoachTerryPSU @CoachTrautFB @southpointeFBSC @ChadSimmons_ @SWiltfong_ @LemmingReport @RivalsFriedman @TomLoy247 @GregBiggins @NPCoachJeff @SC_DBGROUP @hellstarsports @CoachTroop3 pic.twitter.com/UyCm2AyXKL

— J’Zavien Currence (@JZavien) April 23, 2024

The latest on Penn State’s lone 2026 commit

The Nittany Lions have Messiah Mickens as the only 2026 recruiting class commit at the moment. There is plenty of time to gather additional members but lately, other schools have been trying to pluck Mickens away from Penn State.

The latest school to enter the battle was the Georgia Bulldogs who offered Mickens a scholarship on April 17th. Mickens is regarded as the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania in the 2026 cycle. He is also listed as the No. 3 athlete in the 2026 class as well. Penn State will have to continue to fight to hold its pledge up until signing day in 2025.

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