Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class is starting to take shape-and it’s doing so with a little help from some familiar faces out of Ames.
With Matt Campbell now at the helm in Happy Valley, a few former Iowa State commits are reconsidering their futures. That includes three-star offensive tackle Pete Eglitis, who recently reopened his recruitment just a week after signing with the Cyclones.
Eglitis, a senior out of Ohio, is ranked as the No. 78 player in the state and No. 1,607 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, Eglitis brings size and upside-traits that Penn State’s staff clearly believes they can develop. And perhaps more importantly, he’s someone Campbell and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton already know well.
Clanton followed Campbell to Penn State after coaching the offensive line at Iowa State, and he played a key role in recruiting Eglitis to the Cyclones. That connection could prove pivotal.
When a player reopens their recruitment this quickly after committing, it often signals a shift in coaching or circumstance-and in this case, it’s both. Penn State is now firmly in the mix.
There’s no official visit on the books just yet, but Eglitis has said things are trending in the right direction. Right now, it’s a waiting game as the dust settles from Penn State’s head coaching change. But the signs are pointing toward Eglitis making his way to State College.
He originally chose Iowa State over offers from Pittsburgh and Louisville, but with Campbell now leading the Nittany Lions and Clanton still in his corner, it’s hard to imagine Eglitis catching them off guard if he flips his commitment.
This potential pickup comes at a critical time for Penn State. The Nittany Lions had been aiming high for their 2026 class, targeting four- and five-star talent to headline the group. But a bumpy 2025 season threw a wrench into those plans, and now the focus is on building a solid foundation with dependable three-star prospects.
Eglitis would join a class that’s starting to gain some traction. Penn State currently holds four hard commits in addition to its two signees-four-star edge rusher Jackson Ford and four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone.
The hard commits include safeties Bryson Williams and Tyrell Chatman, quarterback Kase Evans, and punter Lucas Tenbrock. Williams committed on December 13, with the others following the next day.
Williams, like Eglitis, is another former Iowa State commit now on Penn State’s radar. The Nittany Lions are battling Vanderbilt for the three-star safety, and his recruitment will be another one to watch closely in the coming weeks.
For now, Penn State is leaning into its relationships, especially with players who had ties to Campbell and his staff. It’s not the splashy five-star haul fans might have hoped for, but it’s a smart, strategic pivot-one that could pay off if the staff can continue to bring in players who already buy into the vision.
Eglitis may not be the headline-grabber of the class, but his recruitment is a telling sign of how Penn State plans to rebuild momentum: one familiar face at a time.