Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1507572
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 3 5 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State's 2024 recruiting class has yet to sign its letters of intent, but the Nittany Lions already have three 2025 commitments, and now they have a 2026 pledge. The most recent addition to the grow- ing contingent of future Lions is running back Messiah Mickens of Trinity High in Harrisburg. Mickens gave the Lions a surprise commitment on Aug. 19. Although he's only a sophomore, Mick- ens has received a four-star grade in the On3 Industry Ranking and is the No. 29 overall prospect nationally, No. 3 running back and No. 1 player in Pennsylvania. The 2026 class is still more than two years away from being able to sign its letters of intent, so those rankings are certain to change, but the 5-foot-10, 195-pound running back is on pace to be one of the top prospects in the cycle. Mickens has already earned 18 schol- arship offers from the likes of Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee and Texas A&M. He's been to see seven schools this year, including a visit to State College for the Lasch Bash barbecue in July. By late summer, he felt he had seen enough to feel confident in committing to the Nittany Lions. "I already knew it was time," he ex- plained. "When I went and traveled across the country, I felt like everything was the same. They're all great coaches. They're all great facilities. Nothing really stood out to me. "Penn State was always the school I re- ally liked, and then when I started really narrowing it down, it was easy to see that it was home. Having my family come see me play is important to me. It's not far at all. So, I just thought that was the best option for me and my family." Penn State's success at developing running backs played a big part in Mick- ens' decision. Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders both ranked in the NFL's top five in rushing yards last season, and the Nit- tany Lions are fielding another talented backfield this year, with sophomores Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen leading the way. Except for Barkley, who left for the NFL after the 2017 season, all of those players have been coached by Ja'Juan Seider. The sixth-year PSU running backs coach has been instrumental in shaping Penn State's offense, and Mickens has built a strong relationship with him. "He's a great guy," Mickens said. "He's a major reason why I committed. I don't think anyone can develop me like he can. It's not even about on the field. Off the field, I feel like he's someone I can go to for advice. But obviously, what he's done on the field, producing some of the top backs in the country, he believes he can do that for me as well. I trust him with that." Mickens made an instant impact for Trinity last season, rushing for 961 yards and 18 touchdowns. He and his team- mates won a District III championship and made it all the way to the PIAA semi- finals. They went just 3-6 without him the prior year. Trinity is coached by former Penn State defensive lineman Jordan Hill, and in February the school hired one of Hill's ex-teammates at PSU, All-America line- backer Michael Mauti, as assistant head coach. Hill and Mauti were both part of the 2012 Penn State team that stuck together and produced an 8-4 record in the face of harsh NCAA sanctions. That team has earned a special place in the school's foot- ball lore, and Mickens said his father has been impressed with how fans have em- braced the program's alumni. "After seeing the love Penn State fans have for Coach Hill and Coach Mauti, af- ter everything they did for the program, and how successful they've become be- yond football, that's something he wants for me," Mickens said. "Both of them had success in football, but they're very successful in so many other things. Now they're doing a great job coaching us in high school football. They're both just very successful men who came out of that school and that football program. He wants Penn State to do that for me, too." ■ Harrisburg Running Back Gets 2026 Cycle Off To Early Start RYA N S N Y D E R | RYA N . S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M Messiah Mickens had already received 18 scholarship offers heading into his sophomore season at Trinity High in Camp Hill, Pa. The four-star running back committed to Penn State in August. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER COMMITMENT PROFILE MESSIAH MICKENS