Penn State football saw two verbal commitments head out the door this weekend while picking up three more pledges during a busy weekend for James Franklin and his staff.
The now former future Nittany Lions in question are four-star running back Alvin Henderson and four-star linebacker DJ McClary. Henderson opted to flip his commitment to Auburn, something that didn’t come as a huge shock as Penn State looked to get the Alabama native out of his home state with the Tigers as the Nittany Lions’ primary contender for his services. Henderson is the No. 8 running back in the 2025 class, according to the 247 Network rankings.
As for the other departure, McClary’s decision came as a bit more of surprise as the New Jersey native’s flip to Rutgers came not long after an official visit to Penn State. Interestingly enough, Rutgers’ current 2025 recruiting class is ranked the 10th-best in the nation according to the 247 Network Composite Rankings, although some of that can be attributed to size, with the Scarlet Knights boasting 28 verbal commitments still somewhat early in the process.
It wasn’t all bad news for Penn State this weekend, though, as Franklin and his staff landed the commitments of a trio of players headlined by four-star running back Jabree Wallace-Coleman alongside three-star safety Braswell Thomas and four-star edge rusher Cortez Harris.
Wallace-Coleman, who attends Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia, gave Penn State a quick rebound at the running back position following the loss of Henderson. He is rated the 12th-best back in the class.
Thomas, meanwhile, is now one of five coverage players committed to Penn State for the 2025 cycle as the Nittany Lions continue to churn out quality safeties and corners under defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith. The Pleasantville, New Jersey product is rated the No. 49 safety in the nation and the No. 20 overall prospect in the Garden State for the 2025 class.
Finally, it was Harris rounding out a busy weekend as he gives Penn State more future depth at defensive end. The four-star Maryland product is rated the No. 20 edge rusher in the country this cycle and the first verbal commitment for Penn State along the defensive front.
Penn State exits the weekend with its 2025 class now 17 players deep and rated the 11th-best in the nation by the 247 Network.
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