Penn State added another high-upside piece to its 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of edge rusher Elijah Reeder, a New Jersey native who pledged to the Nittany Lions following an official visit to State College this past weekend.
Reeder, from Central Regional (Bayville, New Jersey), originally signed with Iowa State as a late addition to Matt Campbell’s class on December 3, the opening day of the early signing period.
The 6’4″, 210-pound defensive end had taken an official visit to Ames just two days earlier before ultimately reopening his recruitment. After backing out of his Iowa State commitment, Reeder drew interest from Missouri and Rutgers but chose to take just one official visit, to Penn State, before making his decision.
During his senior season, Reeder posted 50 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, showcasing the disruptive ability that has drawn attention from evaluators.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.According to Rivals’ Industry Rankings, which combines evaluations from Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN, Reeder ranks No. 525 nationally, No. 53 among defensive ends, and ninth overall in New Jersey. He is the highest-ranked of the former Iowa State signees now committed to Penn State.
Scouting analysts view Reeder as a developmental prospect with significant upside. His size, long wingspan, explosiveness, and bend off the edge fit the mold of past Penn State edge rushers. Reeder joins four-star Pennsylvania native Jackson Ford as the second defensive line commitment in Penn State’s 2026 class, reinforcing a continued emphasis on high-ceiling talent in the trenches.
