With eight commitments, Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 4 nationally, and it could see a significant boost after one of the country’s top linebackers, Izayia Williams, included the Nittany Lions in his top five on Thursday night. Williams, a four-star linebacker from Leesburg, FL, listed Penn State alongside Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Florida State.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker’s recruitment has been anything but straightforward, so a commitment at this point could be uncertain. He first committed to Louisville in November 2023 but de-committed two months later. He then committed to Syracuse after receiving an offer in the spring of 2024, only to de-commit again in August before his junior season. In September 2024, Williams committed to Florida State, one of his finalists, but de-committed from the Seminoles in November.
Williams’ recruitment will be one to follow closely leading up to signing day, but a commitment would be a big win for Penn State. Head coach James Franklin has had great success recruiting in Florida, and the Nittany Lions’ strong tradition of producing successful linebackers likely plays a role in Williams’ interest.
While Penn State has yet to secure a commitment from a linebacker in the 2026 class, they did land four linebackers in the 2025 class: LaVar Arrington Jr., Cameron Smith, Dayshaun Burnett, and Alex Tatsch. Arrington is expected to transition to edge rusher, and Burnett was listed as a defensive lineman by Penn State on signing day, but Smith and Tatsch are expected to remain at off-ball linebacker.
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