Brandon Arrington is the top-ranked cornerback in the 2026 recruiting class, and while the Spring Valley, California, product won’t be announcing his commitment until July 5, he’s narrowed down his five finalists and is heading to Happy Valley this weekend.
Arrington included Penn State among a group of national powerhouse programs with Alabama, Oregon, Texas A&M, and USC when he presented his final five on Monday night. He has an official visit scheduled with each of those schools, and James Franklin’s program gets the first crack at the highly-touted recruit who could make or break his 2026 class.
5-star CB Brandon Arrington begins official visits with a trip to Penn State
Penn State has not landed a top 10 recruiting class since 2022, a group headlined by Drew Allar, which is largely still intact and leading a push for a national championship this season. Once that group exhausts its final year of eligibility in Penn State’s all-in campaign, Franklin will need an influx of young talent to help push the program into what will feel like a distinctly new era. Much in the way that Allar was the cornerstone of a three-year team build, Arrington would be a foundational addition to the program.
With 13 commits, Penn State’s 2026 class ranked No. 7 in the country, but even with two four-star quarterbacks in tow, the group lacks star power. Arrington would provide it at a position of big-time need, or maybe even two.
Arrington is officially listed as an athlete, and he plays both ways in high school as a cornerback and wide receiver. He’s likely a defensive back at the next level, but with Franklin recently unveiling a two-way plan for another 2026 recruit, Joey O’Brien, he could do the same for Arrington.
Franklin does not rely heavily on the transfer portal, but he uses it to fill holes, which means his portal activity tells you a lot about the positions on his roster that he views as weaknesses. And, no surprise, prioritized both cornerback and wide receiver over the last two offseasons.
Penn State’s depth at cornerback has largely been replenished with multiple four-stars arriving in the 2025 class on the heels of Georgia transfer AJ Harris’s breakout season in 2024. Harris will start opposite Elliot Washington II next season, but long-term, corner is still a priority for the Nittany Lions. The situation at wide receiver is a bit more dire.
Penn State brought in three transfer portal wide receivers this offseason after the spring addition of Syracuse transfer Trebor Pena, and all three, Pena, Kyron Hudson, and Devonte Ross, are in their final season of eligibility.
If they view him as a defensive back, the Nittany Lions should really want a player like Arrington, but if they see a star receiver in the 6-foot-2, 180-pound five-star, they desperately need to bring him to Happy Valley.
He is set to arrive in Happy Valley on May 2, so Penn State gets to make the first impression during Arrington’s official visit cycle, and James Franklin better make it count.