Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534903
4 4 M A Y 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State used the months of March and April to improve both its current and future rosters. The Nittany Lions added five commitments to their 2026 class during that stretch. As of late April, James Franklin and his staff had assembled a 13-player contingent that rated ninth nationally in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The upcoming class could end up be- ing the first at Penn State since 2022 to finish in the top 10. It won't be easy, but PSU is in the mix with numerous quality prospects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Below are 12 players who will bear watching in the months to come. Khary Adams CB | 6-1 | 180 | Towson, Md. Penn State was the team to beat with Adams following a junior season in which he totaled 43 tackles and 3 inter- ceptions. But then the four-star Loyola Blakefield prospect saw his stock soar this spring. Not only has his list of offers more than doubled, he's also the No. 4 cornerback and No. 31 overall prospect nationally according to On3's scouts. Penn State did get him back on campus for an unofficial visit on April 21, and he's visited with the Nittany Lions more than any other school so far. He'll take an of- ficial visit to Penn State June 6-8 and also plans to check out Auburn, South Caro- lina, Notre Dame and Oregon in either May or June. The Tigers, Gamecocks and Ducks are among the most financially aggressive programs in the country, and that could be something to consider with Adams. The Nittany Lions may have the stron- gest relationship with Adams and his family, but it's also become clear that they'll have to fight harder than we ex- pected back in December. Marlen Bright OL | 6-6 | 270 | Wayne, N.J. Penn State remains the favorite with Bright, a four-star prospect at DePaul Catholic and the fourth-ranked player in New Jersey. He took two official visits in April, checking out Illinois and West Vir- ginia. He'll resume official visits at the end of May, starting with Syracuse (May 27- 29) before traveling straight to Penn State for a May 30-June 1 official visit. Rutgers also has an official visit set for June 13-15. Bright has already set a July 12 com- mitment date, and we expect him to take all three of his remaining official visits. It wouldn't be a surprise if one or two other schools also host him, but the Nittany Lions are in a good position to land On3's No. 22 offensive tackle and No. 225 overall prospect nationally. Messiah Hampton WR | 6-1 | 180 | Rochester, N.Y. No player on this list has seen his stock rise more sharply in recent months than Hampton. Upstate New York isn't consid- ered a recruiting hotbed, but the four-star James Monroe High prospect has been traveling across the country since Febru- ary to participate in some of the biggest seven-on-seven tournaments. He's now listed by On3 as the No. 7 receiver and No. 49 overall prospect in the 2026 class. Hampton has official visits set with Penn State and Miami in May, followed by Oregon, Ohio State and USC in June. The other four schools he's considering have shown that they'll be aggressive fi- nancially with freshmen. Considering that Hampton hasn't been to State Col- lege since November, the Lions are likely trending in the wrong direction here. Alex Haskell DL | 6-4 | 265 | Philadelphia Haskell narrowed his list to Duke, Michigan, Penn State and Syracuse in These PSU Targets Will Bear Watching This Summer RYA N S N Y D E R | RYA N . S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M FOOTBALL RECRUITING Maryland defensive back Khary Adams has visited Penn State more than any other school. On3 lists him as the nation's No. 31 overall player and No. 4 cornerback. PHOTO COURTESY ON3