Penn State Eyeing Elite Top 10 Prospect for Class of 2026!

Earlier this week, James Franklin and Penn State football got some exciting news about one of their top recruits for the Class of 2026. Brandon Arrington, a standout two-way player from Spring Valley, California, has quickly become one of the highest-rated prospects in his class. A composite 5-star and the No. 1 athlete according to On3, Arrington has received offers from over 30 FBS programs. He’s narrowed his choices down to 12 schools, and Penn State remains a contender.

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin . Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The Nittany Lions are one of six Big Ten schools still in the running, joining Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA, and USC. Also making the cut are powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. Missing from the list are programs like Indiana, Miami, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Texas.

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Arrington had an impressive junior season at Mount Mesa High School, where he scored 10 touchdowns, forced three turnovers, and recorded seven pass breakups. His athleticism doesn’t stop on the football field, though—he’s also a track star. Last spring, Arrington claimed California state titles in both the 100M and 200M, tying a sectional record in the latter. As he told On3, “I feel like my track times benefit me for getting these big offers because colleges love speed.”

Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation, with nine verbal commitments so far. The group includes safety Matt Sieg, offensive tackle Kevin Brown, running back Messiah Mickens, quarterback Troy Huhn, edge rusher Daniel Jennings, cornerback Julian Peterson, and wide receivers Jahsiear Rogers, Jerquaden Guilford, and Lavar Keys. The first five recruits are all composite four-star players, while the rest are three-star prospects.

Franklin’s recruiting efforts continue to pay off, as Penn State’s 2025 class is currently ranked No. 15. His best classes came in 2018 and 2022, both of which were ranked No. 6 in the nation.