Penn State has added to an already promising 2026 recruiting class with a commitment from three-star North Cross School (Virginia) cornerback Jaziel Hart, who announced his decision on Thursday. Hart becomes the 17th member of a class that ranked No. 5 nationally, per 247Sports, prior to his commitment.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Hart is ranked as the nation’s No. 44 cornerback and No. 547 overall prospect on 247Sports’ composite rankings. He chose the Nittany Lions over Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
James Franklin has enjoyed a busy May on the recruiting trail, having now added his fifth 2026 commitment of the month. Hart joins wide receiver Davion Brown, defensive lineman Alexander Haskell, as well as linebackers Terry Wiggins and Mathieu Lamah on the growing list of prospects who have committed to Penn State over the past three weeks.
With starting cornerback A.J. Harris eligible for the NFL draft next spring, the position could look different in 2026 and beyond. Hart will look to make a name for himself in the position room next season alongside fellow cornerback recruits David Davis and Julian Peterson.
The Nittany Lions have excelled in adding in-state prospects over the course of the 2026 recruiting cycle, earning commitments from seven Pennsylvania players thus far. But that hasn’t stopped Franklin from dipping into other states, such as Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and California.
Hart becomes the program’s third prospect from Virginia to commit this cycle, joining Brown and Lamah.
