With Penn State’s 2025 high school recruiting class largely signed and many of the recruits already on campus, head coach James Franklin and his team have shifted their focus to the 2026 class. Though the Nittany Lions secured notable additions during the winter transfer portal window, they seem to be making greater strides in high school recruiting for the 2026 cycle.
Currently, Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class ranks No. 3 nationally with nine commitments, and another could be close after four-star edge rusher Jake Kreul visited Happy Valley on Friday.
Kreul, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound edge rusher from IMG Academy in Florida, announced his visit on social media. Ranked as the 54th-best player and the sixth-best edge rusher in the 2026 class by 247Sports composite rankings, Kreul has been touring top programs, including Oklahoma, Auburn, UCF, Texas, and Oregon. He even shared a picture with legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick, now coaching at North Carolina.
While Kreul isn’t expected to commit soon, if he were to choose Penn State, he’d be the second-highest-rated recruit in their 2026 class, only behind four-star offensive tackle Kevin Brown. He would also be the second edge rusher in the class, joining four-star Daniel Jennings, who committed earlier this year.
This offseason, Franklin and defensive line coach Deion Barnes are addressing key departures like Abdul Carter, projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Dani Dennis-Sutton, set to graduate after his senior season. To bolster the defensive end position, Penn State added Texas A&M transfer Enai White and signed LaVar Arrington Jr. in their 2025 class. Four-star Max Granville from the 2024 class is also expected to contribute.
Kreul remains a key recruit to watch following his visit to Penn State.
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