Penn State has been as active as any program in the country in the 2026 recruiting cycle, already with commitments from nine players and the No. 4 ranked class in the country. Still, the Nittany Lions are looking to add to that group and could have a clear top target in newly-minted five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows.
The 6-foot-6 225-pound Washington DC native recently received a five-star rating from ON3.com, jumping from No. 259 nationally to No. 6. Despite that leap, he is still just the 106th player by 247Sports Composite rankings. He’ll likely climb as the rest of the industry recognizes his talent and incredible size, so it’s crucial that Penn State lands a commitment soon. However, Meadows will likely hold out for the hefty NIL package that a top-10 recruit deserves.
James Franklin has long thrived on early recruiting which has allowed him to assemble the uncommonly loyal high school classes which have made for uneventful national signing days. However, Franklin, who has signed very few top 10 recruiting classes over his time at Penn State, also succeeds on the recruiting trail because of early evaluations. Penn State is often in on a player well before they make a jump up the recruiting rankings and the other powerhouse programs finally take notice.
The program’s extended relationship with Meadows is just another feather in the cap of Franklin’s staff and defensive line coach Deion Barnes for their early evaluation ability.
Four-star quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who ended his freshman season in 2024 as Drew Allar’s backup, is a great example of somebody who Franklin and his staff had a longstanding relationship with before he rose up the recruiting rankings. Across his final high school season, Grunkemeyer had a rapid ascent up the recruiting industry, eventually settling as a near consensus top-100 to top-150 player in the country.
Penn State isn’t the only big-time program with interest in Meadows, but according to 247Sports, the Gonzaga High School product’s only unofficial visit of the fall was to Happy Valley.
With Franklin’s stellar 2022 recruiting class finally aging out after the 2025 season, the Nittany Lions need an influx of young talent, and if they can land a player like Meadows, it will go a long way to retooling the roster this year’s push for a national championship.