Just five days in May, James Franklin has already landed his second 2026 commitment of the month in three-star linebacker Mathieu Lamah as Penn State stays red-hot on the recruiting trail. With a springtime surge into official visit season, 15-player Penn State’s 2026 class now ranks fourth in the country, one spot behind Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions did have the Buckeyes in the rearview mirror before Ryan Day made a splash with the commitment of four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt on Sunday to jump to No. 3. USC and Notre Dame top the recruiting rankings, but after three straight seasons ranking outside the top 10, Franklin has his program back in elite company.
3-star linebacker Mathieu Lamah announces commitment to Penn State’s loaded 2026 recruiting class
Lamah is the second linebacker to join the fray this month after four-star Terry Wiggins committed to the Nittany Lions last week. Lamah, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound Virginia native, has just two official visits scheduled, one to Happy Valley on June 12 and another to Virginia Tech a week later. He has also received interest from Michigan and Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels.
Wiggins has a versatile game and excels in coverage and as an off-ball linebacker, but he’s at his best on the edge, getting after the quarterback. Lamah, however, is a true mike linebacker, which has suddenly become a position of need at Linebacker U.
Tony Rojas will lead the way this season and has an additional year of eligibility for 2026 if he chooses to stay for a senior season, but there are question marks around him at linebacker. Dom DeLuca should start in his final season, and Anthony Speca is an intriguing young option entering his redshirt freshman season, but with Ta’Mere Robinson’s surprising transfer portal departure to USC this spring, depth is a concern moving forward.
Penn State’s 2025 class featured two true off-ball linebackers, Cameron Smith and Alex Tatsch, but Dayshaun Burnett has already moved to defensive end. Lamah is the first inside linebacker in the 2026 class, which could be a foundational one for Penn State moving forward.
Franklin’s last class with this type of elite talent was the 2022 group that is expected to lead the Nittany Lions’ national championship contention as seniors this year. Once Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, and others depart for the NFL next offseason, Penn State needs to restock the cupboard, and a stellar 2026 class is the best way to do it.
Expect more commitments to come rolling in during official visit season, and this group to remain intact. While a commitment means less than ever in this chaotic NIL era, especially with the early signing period over six months away, Franklin has typically done an excellent job keeping his recruiting classes together.