Cael Sanderson visits with Penn State wrestling target, elite 2026 recruit Jax Forrest

Cael Sanderson signed the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation in the 2024 cycle, and is track to have similar success with the 2025 class. Now, Sanderson is getting a jumpstart on the Nittany Lions’ 2026 recruiting class by visiting with one of the top prospects from the cycle, Bishop McCort (Pennsylvania) star Jax Forrest.

Forrest posted a story on his Instagram feed Tuesday morning with the caption, “Great home visit with Coach Cael.” The McCort standout is currently the top recruit in the 2026 recruiting cycle and No. 3 pound-for-pound in FloWrestling’s July 30 update of the 2023-24 high school wrestling rankings.

In 2024, Forrest finished the high school season by winning the PIAA Class 2A title at 127 pounds with a 53-2 record.

Jax Forrest, The Youngman who "Wrestles Sometimes"
Is 1 of the Best from the Class of 2026
Had a Great Home visit with Penn State Head Coach, Cael Sanderson@pennstateWREST @NittanyLionWC @JaxForrest6 pic.twitter.com/IwdfwCEwpR

— Penn State/NLWC Fan (@NlwcFan) August 28, 2024

Jax Forrest finished the 2023-24 high school season by winning the PIAA Class 2A title at 127 pounds with a 53-2 record.

He then competed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 57 kg, eventually falling to former Olympic Bronze Medalist Thomas Gilman in the quarterfinals. Forrest ultimately battled back for a fourth place finish.

Now an assistant coach at Oklahoma State under David Taylor, Gilman joined the former Penn State wrestling icon when the Cowboys made their in-home visit with Forrest last week.

Battle between Penn State and Oklahoma State rages on

Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Cael Sanderson and Penn State still dominate the sport of wrestling and are already the favorites to win a fourth consecutive National Championship next spring.

However, Taylor appears to already be making waves in the recruiting world for Oklahoma State. Taylor picking up a top recruit from the Nittany Lions’ backyard would certainly be a shot across the bow for his alma mater.

The combination of 2025 prospect Marcus Blaze along with Jax Forrest and Bo Bassett from the 2026 recruiting cycle appear to be several of the crucial pieces that may dictate which teams finish end the decade as national title contenders.

While Penn State wrestling looks to be always in a place to win a national championship, especially with back-to-back No. 1 recruiting classes on the horizon, top wrestlers going to places like Oklahoma State and Ohio State could potentially close the gap.

Regardless if there becomes more parity in the sport or the gap between the Nittany Lions and the field continues to widen, Jax Forrest will play a key role in the future of college wrestling.

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