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Four-Star Jackson Ford Becomes Penn State’s First Class of 2026 Early Signee

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Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.com

Joel Haas

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Penn State got on the board on Early National Signing Day.

Despite losing most of its 2026 recruiting class following James Franklin’s firing and currently being without a new head coach, the Nittany Lions managed to ink four-star edge rusher Jackson Ford, who was the first to put pen to paper on Wednesday.

Ford, from Malvern Prep in suburban Philadelphia, ranks as the No. 9 Pennsylvania prospect, No. 25 edge rusher and No. 256 overall prospect in the class. He’s likely already cemented his place as a fan favorite before stepping foot on campus, remaining loyal despite the uncertainty surrounding the program.

He was later joined by four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone, who decommitted from Auburn on Monday and hadn’t chosen a new school yet. There will be a second national signing day window in February, though almost every recruit chooses to sign during the early opportunity. Three-star cornerback Amauri Polydor is Penn State’s only other remaining commitment, though he’s yet to officially sign.