A big-time Penn State recruiting target has committed to another Big Ten school.
Saturday afternoon, a Class of 2026 running back named Shahn Alston announced that he has committed to USC over fellow Big Ten schools Penn State and Wisconsin.
https://Twitter.com/shahnalston3/status/1878161619038998669?s=46
Alston was on Penn State’s radar for a while.
This is a player Penn State would have loved to have. Alston is the No. 118 overall player in the country from his class per 247Sports, as well as the No. 7 running back in America and No. 5 overall player in Ohio. Penn State already has a running back committed to its ‘26 Class in Messiah Mickens, who is the No. 9 RB in the country per 247Sports composite.
ALSTON AND PENN STATE
Penn State had been a place of interest for Alston for a long time. Alston talked exclusively with Nittany Sports Now over the summer, and said the relationship started to grow in January 2024.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“I visited them earlier this year and then I went there again for a spring practice. Me and Coach (Ja’Juan) Seider and Coach (Charles) Walker have really been in communication since June 15 and ever since then, they’ve been really consistent with me. Usually, every day we get a chance to talk so I’d say that in a short amount of time, my relationship with Penn State has really grown a lot.”
Although Alston likes Penn State, PSU doesn’t appear to be the favorite. The favorite eventually won out.
TAKEN WITH USC
USC was betting favorite for Alston, if such a thing existed in recruiting. There’s only been one “crystal ball projection” placed by 247Sports and it didn’t have Alston picking Penn State of the schools recruiting him.
247’s Allen Trieu predicted that Alston will land at USC, with his confidence being a seven out of the maximum 10.
Penn State has eight players committed to its 2026 Class, including Mickens.
