Top Penn State football commit: SEC team ‘willing to do whatever they have to do’ to flip me

James Franklin and Penn State football may have to work to keep their top commitment in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Four-star running back Alabama Alvin Henderson surprised many when he picked James Franklin and the Nittany Lions over in-state Auburn last month. But after the top 10 running back in the 2025 cycle popped up on The Plains last weekend, some in the recruiting industry started to wonder if the standout back was giving the Tigers another look. Now, Henderson says that Hugh Freeze and the Tigers are willing to pull out all the stops to get him back on side.

Alvin Henderson: Auburn “willing to do whatever they have to do” to flip me

James Franklin and Penn State football might be heading for a knock-down-drag-out fight to keep top running back commit Alvin Henderson in the Nittany Lions’ 2025 recruiting class. And that’s coming directly from the source himself.

Speaking to Adam Gorney of Rivals on Wednesday, the Elba, Alabama, star said that Auburn is still making a serious run at flipping his commitment.

“They’re willing to do whatever they have to do [to flip me],” Henderson told Gorney.

Auburn still making a serious run at Penn State RB commit Alvin Henderson from Elba, Ala.@CalebJ_Rivals / @BMattAU pic.twitter.com/FxYjRTqonv

— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) May 22, 2024

The potential flip discussion picked up more steam last Saturday, when Alvin Henderson showed up for an unexpected visit at Auburn.

This wouldn’t be the first time the four-star back has popped up unannounced to the public; he did so for his one and only visit to Penn State on April 5. He committed to James Franklin and the Nittany Lions a week later.

Wiltfong: Penn State football is going to have a hard time holding on to Henderson’s commitment

There’s a growing opinion in the recruiting world that Alvin Henderson may not be long for Penn State’s class, as well. On Tuesday, national recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong said that it’s going to be difficult for the Nittany Lions to hold on to Henderson, who is the No. 8 running back in the On3 Industry Rankings.

“Well, I think that there’s a lot of confidence around The Plains that ultimately Alvin Henderson will be a Tiger,” Wiltfong stated. “But I think there was also confidence in that in the spring prior to him committing to Penn State.

“It’s going to be hard for Penn State to hang on to him even though coach [Ja’Juan] Seider is one of the best running back coaches in the country and one of the best recruiters. It’s still going to be a tall task to hang on to him.”

“There’s a lot of confidence around the Plains that Alvin Henderson will be a Tiger”@SWiltfong_ says Penn State is gonna have a hard time holding on to 4⭐️ RB commitment

MORE: https://t.co/UX8h63TQci pic.twitter.com/u9tONAAaFZ

— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) May 21, 2024

Alvin Henderson rushed for 3,523 yards and 61 touchdowns on 225 carries as a junior last fall. The No. 141 overall prospect in the country, he is currently the Nittany Lions’ top recruit in the 2025 cycle per the On3 Industry Rankings.

Henderson is set to take his official visit with Penn State football on June 14. While he doesn’t have an official visit set with Auburn yet, he is scheduled to travel to Miami on June 21.

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