Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541276
5 8 D E C E M B E R 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 W ith Penn State's 2025 regular sea- son winding down, history sug- gests that the earliest it will have its next head coach in place is the end of November. Add in the fact that most of the nation's top high school recruits will sign with their future school as early as Dec. 3, and the decision to move on from James Franklin will have a big impact on the Nittany Lions' 2026 class. However, for those who are still com- mitted to the program or are currently committed to another school in a simi- lar position, there's more wiggle room than most fans may think. Below are key dates and information Penn State fans need to know about the class of 2026. When's the ear ly signing period? The early signing period for FBS schools will take place during the first week of December. It will begin at 7 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and will last until midnight Dec. 5. The NCAA moved up the early signing period by two weeks this year so that it doesn't conflict with the transfer portal window. The portal was originally set to open on Dec. 9, but that plan changed in early October when the NCAA decided to move the transfer window out of De- cember entirely. Which Penn State commits plan to enroll in January? As of Nov. 10, PSU had 17 players who were still technically committed. But most of those players were speaking with coaches at other programs to keep their options open. Of those players, 14 were still planning to enroll early. On offense, that list includes four- star running back Messiah Mickens and all four offensive line commits: Jack Fuchs, Ben Eziuka, Kevin Brown and Marlen Bright. Defensively, eight players plan to enroll early: tackle Tavian Branch, edge rusher Jackson Ford, linebackers Mathieu Lamah, Elijah Littlejohn and Terry Wiggins, and defensive backs Amauri Polydor, David Davis and Matt Sieg. In addition, punter Adam McCann- Gibbs informed BWI recently that he will be able to enroll in January now that he's been approved for a student visa. McCann-Gibbs is a native of Newry, Ireland. Three players who won't be com- ing in January are defensive end Ty- son Harley, tight end Pierce Petersohn PSU's Prospective Early Enrollees Don't Have To Sign In December RYA N S N Y D E R | RYA N . S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M If they stick with Penn State through its coaching change, offensive linemen Kevin Brown (left) and Marlen Bright are expected to enroll in January. PHOTO COURTESY MARLEN BRIGHT