Penn State lands 2026 commitment from in-state defensive lineman

Penn State looks as if it will improve to 2-0 on Saturday against FIU. Off the field, the Nittany Lions picked up a win on the recruiting trail.

Tavian Branch, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman, has committed to Penn State, according to On3. According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, the Taylor, Penn., product is the 21st-ranked recruit in the Keystone State. He has 25 offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and South Carolina, as well as Big Ten offers from Rutgers, Maryland, and Wisconsin.

Not long ago, Branch was a Rutgers commit, pledging to the Scarlet Knights on June 11, weeks after taking an official visit to the program. But on Aug. 29, he reopened his recruitment after about 2 and a half months. During an OV to State College on Saturday for the FIU game, he committed to James Franklin‘s program after previous visits to Oklahoma State (April) and Oklahoma (June).

He is the 25th commitment for the Nittany Lions in the class of 2026 and the third defensive lineman, joining Delaware’s Isaac Chukwurah and Philadelphia’s Alexander Haskell. Penn State’s recruiting class is currently ranked No. 16 in the country.

Below, you can take a look at Branch’s highlights from Hudl: