Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1509432
5 8 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M and then when I started really narrow- ing 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 op- tion for me and my family. But also, the education part. With me wanting to go to school for business, and now me seeing more and more people who went to Penn State and the success they're having in life, that helped as well. BWI: You're being coached by two Penn State football alumni, Jordan Hill and Michael Mauti. When I spoke with Jordan after you committed, he said that you and your father gave him one of the best compliments he's ever received. Can you elaborate on that discussion? MICKENS: My dad basically ex- plained to him that, after seeing the love Penn State fans have for Coach Hill and Coach Mauti, a f te r e ve r y t h i n g t h ey d i d fo r t h e program, and how successful they've b e c o m e b e y o n d f o o t b a l l , t h a t 's something he wants for me. 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. BWI: I heard you were thinking about potentially committing while up at Penn State for the Lasch Bash in July. Is that accurate? When did this become some- thing you were serious about? MICKENS: This was always on my mind. Before the Lasch Bash, I talked to Coach Hill and multiple people about it. He said to do whatever your heart is telling you to do, but also to take my time and think about it. Coach Franklin and the staff were great. They never really pressured me into anything. Their message the whole time was that when it's my time, they'll be ready for me. They just wanted what was best for me throughout that whole process. BWI: You've visited Penn State quite a few times now, and it seemed as though you were going out of your way to call Ja'Juan Seider and build an early rela- tionship. Just how much did that con- nection with PSU's running backs coach play into your decision? MICKENS: He's a great guy. 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. BWI: What kind of impact has Penn State's current backfield made on you? It's probably as deep as any in the coun- try right now. MICKENS: It's great. As they've shown, it's not a one-back show up there. Also, competition is a major rea- son why those guys are having the suc- cess they are. Competition is what makes everyone better. I'm all for that. BWI: Was there another school that you seriously considered before an- nouncing your choice? Or was Penn State always the leader? MICKENS: I always felt like Penn State was home. It really wasn't that close, but if there was a school that made me think about it, I'd have to say it was Ohio State. Obviously, they're a great program, too, but I always had Penn State at the top. Penn State was always the best option for me. BWI: I believe you grew up playing football with Lex Cyrus, who's now a ju- nior at Susquehanna Township, and Elias Coke, who's a sophomore at Harrisburg High. Those are two wide receivers from your area that Penn State is recruiting. Are you still close with them? MICKENS: We were all on the same midget team at Susquehanna. [Elias] de- cided to go to Harrisburg, and I went to Trinity, but we played together ever since we were young. EC and I have been best friends for a long time. I feel like I talk to him almost every day. I definitely want to play with him in college. I'll definitely be push- ing Penn State to- ward him, and Lex as well. Even though Lex isn't in the same class as me, we talk almost every day as well. I'll defi- nitely be trying to get those guys over there. BWI: What about [2026 linebacker] Maurice Barnes Jr. at Bishop McDevitt? Do you know him? MICKENS: Yeah, I know him, too. We used to always play each other in youth ball. That was always a thing, Messiah versus Barnes, and that whole competi- tion in our area. I'll be trying to talk to him more and have him come play with me. I don't know him like I know Lex and EC, but we did hang out at the Lasch Bash some. I talk to him occasionally. BWI: Have you gotten to know many of the other top prospects in your class? How aggressive do you plan to be? MICKENS: I'm in this big group chat with the best 2026 recruits in the nation. … I'm definitely going to be getting after it. Every player wants their class to be stacked. I'm the first to commit, so I have to get after it. ■ "Penn State was always the school I really 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." M I C K E N S