UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The roster is beginning to take shape for the five-time defending national champion Penn State wrestling team, and freshman phenom Jayden James will not wrestle for the Nittany Lions during the 2026-27 season.
The decision was first reported by PennLive and had been mentioned by Pat Mineo and Justin Basch as a potential move by coach Cael Sanderson.
James arrives at Penn State following a dominant career at Delbarton High School in New Jersey. He finished his prep career with a lengthy list of accolades, including a 79-0 record over his final two seasons and a pair of New Jersey state championships.
Earlier this summer, James came within one second of winning a U20 World Championship at 74 kilograms (163.1 pounds) at the U20 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia.
For Sanderson, the move further solidifies a lineup that is beginning to take shape around Shayne Van Ness at 149 pounds, Tyler Kasak at 157, PJ Duke at 165 and Mitchell Mesenbrink at 174.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Those were all potential weights where James could have factored into Penn State’s lineup this season.
Instead, Penn State can lean on four of the nation’s top wrestlers through that stretch of the lineup. Van Ness (No. 8), Kasak (No. 12), Duke (No. 11) and Mesenbrink (No. 1) are all ranked among FloWrestling’s Top 12 pound-for-pound wrestlers in its preseason rankings.
James’ absence from the lineup won’t diminish the expectations surrounding him. It simply means Penn State can afford to be patient with one of the nation’s premier young wrestlers.
