James Franklin and the Penn State football program have been on a rollercoaster ride this week in terms of recruiting. Initially, things looked promising as they landed commitments from standout defensive backs, but things took a turn when running back Alvin Henderson flipped to Auburn. This was followed by linebacker DJ McClary decommitting and joining Rutgers’ recruiting class.
Despite these setbacks, Penn State had a backup plan in place for Henderson. They received a commitment from in-state four-star running back Jabree Wallace-Coleman and also secured safety Braswell Thomas. However, the momentum started picking up again with the addition of four-star edge rusher Cortez Harris from Maryland to their roster.
Harris visited the campus last weekend for an official visit and is ranked as the 26th-best player at his position and No. 288 in the 2025 cycle by On3’s Industry Ranking. He is the first defensive lineman commit in Penn State’s class, which has now grown to 17 commits, bringing them close to breaking into the Top 10 classes.
What seems most impressive about Penn State’s recruiting efforts is their ability to recover quickly from setbacks like Alvin Henderson flipping to Auburn or DJ McClary decommitting. The Nittany Lions are clearly on a hot streak and have more commitments coming soon based on their recent successes and their strong relationships with top prospects like Cortez Harris.
Stay tuned for more updates from Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads as we continue to follow Penn State’s recruiting journey closely.
