At halftime of Penn State’s 34-0 win over FIU, the Nittany Lions received their 25th commitment for the Class of 2026 from Riverside (Taylor, Pennsylvania) defensive tackle Tavian Branch.
Branch originally committed to Rutgers on June 11, but as the summer began to wind down he decided to reopen his commitment.
Penn State decided to act quickly on a fast rising defensive tackle prospect who was garnering attention from Auburn, Colorado, Florida State, and Ole Miss.
Branch was a frequent visitor to Happy Valley making 10 trips to meet with Nittany Lion coaches.
This time, Branch feels different about his commitment to Penn State.
“What makes Penn State right for me is, for one, like Coach Franklin says, ‘The best in PA stay in PA,’” Branch said. “I have the blueprint on how to make it to the NFL right in front of me at Penn State. I love the coaches, especially Coach Barnes — he produces players and he’s a great coach. It being close to home is nice too.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“This commitment is different. I’m shutting down my recruitment. Penn State is where I’m going.”
Branch currently plays defensive tackle and has slimmed down to 300 pounds. Being nimble as an athlete and his 6’3” frame that will allow some growth, Branch projects to be a stalwart at defensive tackle – a position that requires quality depth for optimal rotation.
