Penn State wrestling didn’t have any of the top five members of the Class of 2026 recruiting class until Jayden James changed it.
Initially, James, the No. 4 overall recruit from his class, was committed to Virginia Tech.
This week, that changed, and now, he plans on joining Cael Sanderson’s wrestling empire, which just wrapped up its 12th title in 14 years.
Suprise, Surprise: Penn State Wrestling Locks up Another National Title
So why did James change his mind?
For him, it ultimately came down to realizing Penn State was the best place for him to make the most of himself.
“Nothing against VT,” James told Nittany Sports Now via direct message, “an awesome program and awesome people and it was definitely a tough decision. I just felt after a lot of reflecting that PSU was the best spot for my family and I to reach my goals and become the best I can be.”
So what does James like about Penn State?
“The program speaks for itself and the people in the community are even better so that really caught my eye and sparked my interest,” he said.
Another factor in James decision was PJ Duke.
Duke, the No. 2 wrestler in the Class of 2025, trains with James at the KD Training Center, ran by Khaled Dassan.
James and Duke have developed a strong bond away from wrestling, and James feels Duke has made him better off the mat as well.
“PJ is awesome,” he said, “and has been great for my progress as a wrestler and is a close friend off the mat so it’s definitely awesome to have a sense of community there at State College before I get down there.”
James told NSN he plans to compete at either 174 or 184 in college.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.By the time James gets to Penn State, the program will be looking to succeed Levi Haines, at 174, who will out of eligibility after next season.
Penn State’s most recent 184-pounder, five-time national champ Carter Starocci, will be two years removed from college competition.
Starocci ended up being one of the faces of Penn State wrestling, and Dassan, who’s been working with James for almost five years, feels James can be one of the faces as well, and a big recruiting win.
“Jayden is a perfect fit for Penn State,” Dassan told NSN. “He’s a relentless competitor who’s fully committed to improving every day. He genuinely loves the sport, and that passion, combined with his work ethic, makes him an ideal match for Cael’s room.”
Dassan feels James’ “most significant growth” has come within the past year.
“After taking a few tough losses at states and the World Team Trials, he made a major shift in mindset — moving away from being outcome-focused to prioritizing performance and striving to become the best version of himself,” Dassan said.
That progress has been evident in the results.
Competing at 150 pounds this past season, James went 38-0 and won his first state title, doing it all with a smile.
“Jayden is incredibly positive and a great teammate,” Dassan said. “He brings energy to every room he walks into and lifts up the people around him. He’s the kind of person who makes the environment better.”
Dassan has worked with past Penn State stars such as Roman Bravo-Young.
Is there anybody James reminds him of?
“Honestly, no — Jayden is one of one,” he said. “He’s unique. I haven’t seen anyone quite like him.
