Penn State football’s 2026 recruiting class continues to grow.
When Matt Campbell took over the job, Penn State only had two players signed.
Now, it still only has two players signed, but the difference is that seven former Iowa State signees are now committed.
Penn State still has work to do between now and national signing day, which is scheduled for Feb. 4. But the program quadrupling its recruiting Class in less than three weeks is a good start.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2026 Penn State recruiting Class so far, with more help presumably on the way.
PEYTON FALZONE (4-STAR QB)
Falzone’s recruiting story was the opposite of most in Penn State’s original 2026 Class. Most of those players committed to Penn State when James Franklin was the coach and de-committed after he was fired. Falzone flipped to Auburn while Franklin was still the coach and signed with Penn State when the school was still looking for his replacement.
Auburn had its own coaching turmoil with Hugh Freeze being fired mid season.
The Nazareth, PA, native decided to stay close to home, and as a result, Penn State has a four-star QB signed to its Class of 2026.
JACKSON FORD (4-STAR EDGE)
Ford is the highest-rated recruit in Penn State’s 2026 Class, and he’s the only one who never wavered from his commitment Penn Sate. Ford is the No. 8 overall player in PA per 247Sports, the No. 27 EDGE in the country and the No. 240 player nationally.
Ford explained to NSN why he stuck with Penn State in a November exclusive interview.
“I feel like Penn State is bound to get a great coach and they’re bound to bounce back,” Ford said. “I feel like you can only hold down a good program like Penn State for so long. They’re bound to bounce back. They’re bound to prove everyone wrong, and I feel that if you can see that as a recruit and have that faith, I feel like when you get here, it’s just going to elevate your mindset. You’re going to want to work 10 times harder than you already worked, just to prove someone wrong. It puts a chip on your shoulder, and in football, it’s always good to have a chip on your shoulder. Helps motivate you, helps you play harder, puts you in a grind mindset. So I just think it’s a positive. You just stick with the program.
BRYSON WILLIAMS, 3-STAR SAFETY
Williams, a three-star safety, was the first player to commit to Penn State in the Campbell era.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Williams originally committed to Iowa State in June after taking an official visit. He also visited Washington State and Vanderbilt before reopening his recruitment.
While Minnesota and Purdue looked to land Williams, Penn State’s relationship with Campbell and defensive backs coach Deon Broomfield ultimately positioned Penn State favorably.
The son of Jamel Williams, a member of Nebraska’s mid-1990s national championship teams who later played in the NFL with Washington and Green Bay.
During Williams’ senior season at Westside High School, recording 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, and six interceptions. He also contributed offensively, catching 23 passes for 410 yards and eight touchdowns.
Over his high school career, Williams totaled 139 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and nine interceptions. He also posted a 10.8-second time in the 100-meter dash during the spring of 2025.
TYRELL CHATMAN, 3-STAR CB
Listed at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Chatman was a versatile standout at North Star High School. He played both quarterback and wide receiver on offense, totaling 2,047 yards and 26 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
Defensively, Chatman projects as a cornerback at the next level after finishing his prep career with 88 tackles, 21 pass breakups, and four interceptions.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Chatman originally committed to Northern Illinois in December 2024 but reopened his recruitment after earning an offer from Iowa State during a junior day visit in early February. He returned for an unofficial visit in April to watch spring practice and flipped his commitment to the Cyclones shortly thereafter.
An accomplished track athlete, Chatman earned a silver medal in the 400 meters and a bronze medal in the 200 last spring. He owns personal bests of 48.19 seconds in the 400 and 21.61 in the 200, along with a 10.78-second 100-meter dash. Kansas State and Wyoming also offered.
LUCAS TENBROCK, 3-STAR PUNTER
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound punter had been signed to Iowa State. Tenbrock is the No. 5 punter in the country per 247Sports composite rankings.
“Lucas is a big-time high school punting and kicking prospect,” his Sailer bio reads. “He is big, tall, strong and athletic. He has an ideal frame for a college-level punter. Lucas punts for a great combination of distance and hang time. He hits a big-time D1 punt. His best ball measures 50+ yards, with 5.0+ hang time. Also an excellent kicker. Lucas does a great job on field goal. He hits a pure, accurate ball off the ground and easily has 55+ yard range. His kickoffs are strong, D1 ready. Lucas drives the ball deep into the endzone with 4.0+ hang time. I look forward to seeing what the future holds. Look for Lucas to dominate his senior year and beyond. The Navy All-American Bowl Punter is a fine young man who is always a great pleasure to work with. Strong combo prospect.”
KASE EVANS, 3-STAR QB
At quarterback, Penn State now has Kase Evans, another former Iowa State singee added to its recruiting class.
A three-star recruit from Lexington Texas, Campbell spoke about Evans at Iowa Statems post signing day event.
“I would say, if you (asked), what is one of the great steals of this class, I got to go down there during our bye week and see the first round of the playoffs, and I think he threw for almost 300 [yards] and rushed for almost 200. It was an unbelievable performance,” Campbell said.
PETE EGLITIS, 3-STAR OL
A consensus three-star prospect by all major recruiting services, Eglitis earned 20 scholarship offers during the recruiting process. He took visits to nearly as many programs, though he has yet to visit Penn State in person. He plans to enroll in State College in just a few weeks.
Eglitis originally committed to Iowa State following his official visit to Ames in early June. He also took an official visit to Louisville and had planned a trip to Pitt before canceling it after committing.
MASON BANDHAUER, 3-STAR OL
Bandhauer, a 6′-5″, 260 lb. offensive tackle from Fort Collins, Colorado originally signed with Iowa State Dec. 3.
Five days later, Matt Campbell agreed to be the head football coach at Penn State.
Now, on Christmas Eve Eve, Bandhauer has committed to Penn State.
Bandhauer was one of the first commitments on board in Iowa State’s 2026 Class, pledging to the Cyclones in Oct. 2024.
The three-star tackle, per 247Sports, is the No. 10 ranked overall high school football player in Colorado and the No. 61 ranked offensive tackle in America.
KEIAN KAISER, 3-STAR LB
Kaiser, a three-star LB from Nebraska’s Sidney High School, announced via X on Christmas Evethat he had been offered by Penn State and decided to commit to Penn State.
Initially, Kaiser had been signed to Matt Campbell and Iowa State. But after Campbell took the Penn State job, Kaiser requested a release from his letter of intent and reopened his recruitment.
Ultimately, Kaiser decided to join six fellow former Iowa State signees and commit to Penn State football’s recruiting class, making him the first linebacker commit in this new-look class.
