Longtime Penn State running back commit exploring other options after coaching change in Happy Valley

It was a big enough loss for Penn State and head coach James Franklin this week when running backs coach, assistant head coach, and co-offensive coordinator Ja’Juan Seider left Happy Valley for South Bend to join Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. However, it could get much worse if one of the Nittany Lion’s most highly-coveted recruits in the 2026 recruit class, running back Messiah Mickens, follows him. 

Since the change to Penn State’s coaching staff, Mickens, a four-star from Harrisburg who has been committed to the Nittany Lions since August of 2023, has begun exploring other options in his recruitment. According to On3.com’s Steve Wiltfong, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Missouri, and South Carolina are involved. 

Mickens was the earliest commit to Penn State’s 2026 class, a group that currently consists of nine players and is ranked No. 4 nationally. Despite receiving plenty of other offers, the 5-foot-11 200-pound running back has remained remarkably loyal, only taking one other unofficial visit, a trip to Columbia, South Carolina to meet with Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks back in November. 

To hold onto a crucial piece of the loaded 2026 class, Penn State had to move quickly to fill its coaching staff vacancy. First, former NFL star and current Oklahoma running backs coach, DeMarco Murray turned Franklin down to remain in Norman, but on Friday, Penn State filled the role with former Temple head coach Stan Drayton. 

The experienced coach has spent many years coaching running backs and with such a talented group already in Happy Valley after Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen decided to return for their senior year in 2025, Drayton’s first task will be to shut down Mickens’ recruitment before he’s swayed by either Seider or one of the other wild card programs that are viewing Penn State’s coaching staff shake-up as a vulnerability.