Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535618
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 5 4 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 made St. Joseph's Prep de- fensive lineman Alex Haskell a prior- ity recruit in the class of 2026, and on May 9 the staff's perseverance paid off. Haskell announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions in a ceremony in Phila- delphia. St. Joseph's Prep is the state's top team, having won three consecutive PIAA Class 6A titles. Haskell is widely considered one of the Hawks' top defensive players, and his choice was made with an eye toward becoming a four-time state champion be- fore heading off to college. "I made the decision now because I just wanted to get it out of the way to focus on my senior season," Haskell told BWI. "I didn't want to go into the summer not knowing where home was. It was stress- ful, but now I'm relieved that I found a place that fits me." Haskell narrowed his focus to Duke, Michigan, Penn State and Syracuse before making a decision. He visited Penn State more than any other school during the recruiting process, most recently taking a multiple-day trip during spring practice in April. Haskell was also on hand for the Nittany Lions' 38-10 victory over SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff back in December. Along the way, he visited and picked up offers from Mi- ami, Ohio State and Virginia Tech. Haskell became the seventh commit- ment from Pennsylvania in the Nittany Lions' class, joining Harrisburg offensive lineman Kevin Brown, Pittsburgh corner- back David Davis, Nazareth quarterback Peyton Falzone, Harrisburg running back Messiah Mickens, McDonald safety Matt Sieg and Coatesville linebacker Terry Wiggins. Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes was part of the group that offered Haskell following a camp appear- ance in June 2023, before the start of his sophomore season. "They were the first school to say they believed in the player that I can be, and I felt like I have the best relationship with the coaches up there," Haskell said. "I feel like I can come in and try to make a dif- ference "But the person that I connect with best [at Penn State] is definitely Coach Barnes. He's been recruiting me since I was in eighth grade, and I feel like he truly believes in me. He told me that I can be either [an end or tackle]. He sees me more as a D-tackle, but I definitely have the potential to play edge, too." Haskell was a first-team All-Catholic Red Division selection as a junior in 2024. The Hawks went 11-2 last season playing a mixed city and national schedule. St. Joseph's Prep defeated Pittsburgh Central Catholic in the Class 6A state final, 35-6. Haskell is a three-star prospect accord- ing to On3's scouts and also in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average of the grades from the four major recruiting websites. He's listed by On3 as the No. 26 defensive lineman nationally and No. 12 prospect in Pennsylvania. ■ Home-State Success Continues With Pledge From Philly Star RYA N S N Y D E R | RYA N . S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M Haskell wanted to end his recruitment this spring so that he can turn his full attention to helping St. Joseph's Prep claim a fourth consecutive PIAA Class 6A championship. PHOTO COURTESY ON3 COMMITMENT PROFILE ALEX HASKELL Alex Haskell doesn't have elite speed, but he can get upfield with a fast first step and can dart between gaps, hitting his intended targets effectively. His movements are fluid, a characteristic that most of Penn State's successful defensive tackle prospects show on film in high school. These traits make him an almost unblockable run defender who can blow up plays at the point of contact or chase them down in the tackle box. He's constantly in the backfield and can hold the point of attack well. With good bend and pad level, he could develop into a well-rounded defender with few holes in his game. Haskell does not have an elite set of moves yet, but he uses his hands to win at the point of contact, which is a good sign. When he wins, Haskell shows that he can generate immediate pressure or penetra- tion on any given play. Those wins translate into devastating tackles for loss and sacks for the defense. Haskell doesn't show any elite traits on film. His high-end explosive speed and power don't vault him to the top of the list in recruiting, but he's an undeniably good prospect. The more you watch him play, the more you appreciate his combination of high effort, early technical skill and playmaking ability. With his frame and natural size, Haskell has the profile of a complete defensive tackle who can effectively play the run and rush the passer. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N