It’s early in the process, but Penn State currently has one of the highest-rated recruiting classes in the country for 2026. James Franklin’s nine-player class is headlined by offensive tackle Kevin Brown and running back Messiah Mickens, but the latter could be a flip candidate after Notre Dame poached Penn State running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider.
One of Franklin’s most tenured assistant coaches, Seider coached in Happy Valley from 2018 to 2024 as the program’s running backs coach, also picking up the duties of co-offensive coordinator in 2022 and assistant head coach in 2023 before he was hired away after the Nittany Lions run to the College Football Playoff Semifinal this past year.
The season ended at the Orange Bowl for Penn State with a 27-24 loss to the Fighting Irish, but Seider’s group played well with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for 166 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Those two were just the latest superstars that Seider coached in the backfield, but if Seider’s experience was one of the biggest appeals to Mickens, the four-star back could flip his commitment before early signing day in December.
Mickens is currently the 112th-ranked player by 247Sports composite rankings and the No. 9 running back in the 2026 class. The 5-foot-10 200-pound product of Harrisburg, PA also received offers from Georgia, South Carolina, Oregon, Miami, and crucially, Notre Dame.
While Singleton and Allen may be the most esteemed backfield duo in the country heading into 2025, Marcus Freeman’s program in South Bend has quite a few talented backs. Jeremiyah Love is back for his junior season next year along with Jadarian Price and last year’s standout freshman Aneyas Williams. With Love likely heading to the NFL after next season, Mickens would be a viable replacement on the depth chart.
For now, the in-state product has remained committed to the Nittany Lions, but he’s worth keeping an eye on as the program looks to replace Seider.