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Top Penn State target has a list of finalists and a decision date locked in: Newsstand

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•05/20/25•

GregPickel

jaziel-hart-penn-state-football-recruiting-on3
Penn State added two more important 2026 prospects to its spring visitor list. (Credit: EJ Holland | The Wolverine)

Penn State will look to continue a recent recruiting hot streak later this week when top target Jaziel Hart announces his decision. The Lions have landed eight Class of 2026 recruits since April 12 and four in the month of May. They’ll hope to swell both numbers when the On3 four-star cornerback picks between head coach James Franklin’s program, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech this Thursday.

What time he will make his decision public is not yet clear. But, when he does, it will end a recruitment that has taken the 6-foot, 169-pound Roanoke, Va., North Cross School senior-to-be on nearly 40 visits, according to the On3 visit center, with his most recent stop coming in State College for the Blue-White game.

“These schools make me feel like I can develop and become the face of one of them one day,” Hart told On3’s Chad Simmons. “The time has come quicker than we thought. This makes it the right time to commit because it’ll allow me to have a set school for the summer and season knowing I have a home that I am committed too.

“I’m basing my decision off of the comfortability and potential I have when I step foot into a facility.”

Powered by an On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine pick from Steve Wiltfong on Monday, the Lions are considered the favorites to land Hart.

Hart’s decision date comes before scheduled official visits to see the Hokies, Nittany Lions, Volunteers, and Wolverines. He made 54 total tackles and recorded six interceptions as a junior in 2024, according to MaxPreps, and also scored eight times on offense.

Headlines of the day

Four-star CB Dorian Barney following Penn State OV: ‘That’s probably the best visit I’ve been on’: Snyder, BWI

Wiltfong Whiparound: Florida looking for momentum, Alabama leading for 5-star & more: On3

Penn State athletics takes latest step in highly successful season: Bauer, BWI

Penn State wrestling lands MatScout’s No. 1 recruiting Class of 2025: Pickel, BWI

4-star safety Jordan Deck visits Penn State: ‘This visit really opened my eyes’: Simmons, On3

Quote of the day

“Everything I thought it would be, it was. I was a little surprised, but Penn State was honestly what people said it was going to be like. I had heard a lot about it, I had talked to the coaches and I knew what to expect, but seeing it was great.

“The players love it there, the coaches were always around, I loved the stadium and I really liked how everyone made me feel welcome. This visit really opened my eyes.”

Frisco, Tex., Lone Star four-star safety Jordan Deck to On3’s Chad Simmons following his PSU official visit.

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