Penn State football will begin to finalize what may be its smallest − and lowest-ranked − recruiting class on record during Wednesday’s early national signing day.
This 2026 recruiting class, once another respected, top 15-rated Penn State group of incoming high school seniors, has been decimated since the firing of head coach James Franklin in mid-October − and with no permanent replacement eight weeks later.
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The Nittany Lions maintain just six verbal commitments heading into this first signing day on Dec. 3. They’ve lost more than three-quarters of their class to de-commitments since Franklin was fired and recently hired by Virginia Tech, including linebacker Mathieu Lamah on Monday.
Only one of their pledges, Malvern Prep defensive end Jackson Ford, has publicly confirmed that he plans to sign with PSU on Wednesday.
Interim head coach Terry Smith and his staff are managing recruiting, and the preparations for a prospective bowl game, until a permanent head coach is named.
Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions interim head coach Terry Smith looks on during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Penn State football recruiting rankings
The Lions’ 2026 recruiting class is ranked 125th nationally by 247Sports and 98th by Rivals.
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Penn State typically produces top-15 recruiting rankings under Franklin with most containing about 25 members.
His classes in 2018 and 2022 (featuring Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen and Dani Dennis-Sutton) were ranked No. 6 nationally, according to 247Sports.
Franklin’s lowest-rated class was his first (24th), which he finished compiling after taking the job in January of 2014.
Penn State football recruiting class 2026
The Lions still hold verbal commitments from six players heading into signing day: safety Matt Sieg (McDonald, Pa.), defensive end Terry Wiggins (Coatesville, Pa.), defensive end Jackson Ford (Malvern, Pa.), linebacker Tyson Harley (Washington, D. C.), offensive lineman Benjamin Eziuka (Novi, Michigan) and cornerback Amauri Polydor (Baltimore).
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When is the early national signing day?
The early national signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 3. It is the first day high school seniors can make their verbal commitments binding. The early signing period last from Dec. 3 through Dec. 5.
When is the late national signing day?
The traditional or “late” national signing day is Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. It marks the ending of the 2026 recruiting cycle.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Where Penn State football recruiting ranks before early signing day
