Nittany news and notes: James Franklin lands potential 5-star, one of two 2026 commits and more

This summer has been all about recruiting for the 2025 class, but in the past week, Penn State has made a late addition to the 2024 group with the reclassification of Max Granville and has begun to bolster the 2026 class that for the past month has been headlined by four-star quarterback Troy Huhn. 

Penn State’s last major recruiting event of the summer, the “Lasch Bash,” secured commits from two 2026 recruits, Kevin Brown and Jahsier Rogers. Brown, a 6-foot-5 270-pound offensive tackle, is the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania according to 247Sports composite rankings. The Harrisburg native is the 36th-ranked player in the country and though currently a four-star recruit, he is likely to earn a five-star distinction. 

Rogers is currently a zero-star recruit on 247Sports, but the Middletown, Delaware wide receiver recruit is considered a three-star by On3.com and held offers from Indiana, James Madison, and Robert Morris. James Franklin, Andy Kotelnicki, and wide receivers coach Marques Hagans have identified a rising talent and have locked him up before other schools got into the mix. His recruiting profile will continue to rise as he heads into his senior year. 

With Brown and Messiah Mickens, a four-star athlete from Harrisburg, Penn State has locked up two of the top three players in PA in 2026. 

More: Two 2026 recruits pick up offers after Lasch Bash

The Lasch Bash primarily focused on the 2026 recruiting class and among those who picked up offers were running back Shahn Alston and wide receiver Lavar Keys. 

Penn State is a bit late getting into the mix for Alston, the four-star running back from Painesville, Ohio who holds plenty of offers including from Auburn, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Pitt. However, considering the program’s history of elite running backs, the Nittany Lions could soon emerge as the favorite for Alston. 

With Keys, a DeMath Catholic High School product, Penn State is one of the first major programs to offer. Keys holds offers Boston College, East Carolina, Marshall, Memphis, and Maryland. While still a zero-star prospect, the 5-foot-11 165-pound wide receiver could be another player who, like Rogers, shoots up recruiting boards in his junior season.