ICYMI: Penn State wrestling lands top 20 recruit as first commit in 2026 class

Penn State wrestling kicked off its NCAA Championship defense with an emphatic 41-3 win over Drexel on Sunday afternoon. The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts against the Dragons despite three starters resting after wrestling the day before in the NWCA All-Star classic.

But just as the 2024-25 season was ready to kick off, Cael Sanderson was busy getting the Nittany Lions’ 2026 recruiting class off the ground. Shortly before Penn State took the mat in Rec Hall for the season opener on Sunday, Bishop McCort’s Sam Herring announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions.

Herring becomes the first pledge for Penn State wrestling in the class of 2026.

Gʀᴇᴇɴʟɪɢʜᴛ. #weare pic.twitter.com/vyre23rPV4

— Sam Herring (@samherring06) November 17, 2024

Sam Herring finished with a 39-12 record during his first two seasons at Bishop McCort, often thought to be the best high school wrestling program in the country. Located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Bishop McCort has historically produced some of the highest-ranked recruits in the country.

Herring has already placed three times in the Super 32 Challenge in his young career. Currently ranked as the No. 20 overall prospect in MatScout’s 2026 rankings, he projects to be either a 141 or 149-pounder in the Penn State wrestling lineup.

Will there be a Bishop McCort reunion at Penn State?

The Nittany Lions are also in contention for two other Bishop McCort standouts in the 2026 cycle: Bo Bassett and Jax Forrest. Will adding teammate Sam Herring be what pushes Penn State wrestling to the top of the list for Bassett and Forrest?

Basset has narrowed his list to 13 teams after starting his recruitment open to the entire country and knocking off teams every few weeks. Forrest released his top 10 schools, which included the Nittany Lions, in September.

If they go together, the tandem could set up any program in the country for national title contention immediately upon arriving on campus. Or, in the case of Penn State wrestling, continue Cael Sanderson’s nearly two-decade streak of dominance.

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