In recruiting news, a Penn State wrestling commit ranks near the top of MatScots’ Class of 2026 Big Board.
MatScouts ranks Jayden James, who flipped from Virginia Tech to PSU in late March, No. 3.
Penn State missed on the top two recruits in Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) and Bo Bassett (Iowa).
But on James, the program landed what it hopes will be a future star. James, who wrestles at Delbarton High School in New Jersey, is coming off a state championship at the 150-pound weight class. So, yeah, he’s pretty good. He’s also been good at Folkstyle, recently winning a U17 U.S. Open Championship.
‘HE BRINGS ENERGY’
Not long after James committed to Penn State, NSN caught up with his trainer, Khaled Dassan of the KD Training Center.
Penn State Wrestling Recruiting: Jayden James Tells NSN Why he Flipped From VT to PSU
Dassan described James as “a perfect fit for Penn State.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“He’s a relentless competitor who’s fully committed to improving every day,” he said. “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.”
The “best version” of James, per Dassan, is pretty darn good.
“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.”
ELSEWHERE
Elsewhere on the big board, Penn State commit Sam Herring ranks No. 24. Herring, who wrestled with Forrest and Bassett at Bishop McCourt, finished his high school career 89-17.
Both James and Herring will compete this weekend at the U20 World Team Trials in Geneva, Ohio.
