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Where does Penn State now sit in the 2026 Team Recruiting Rankings following Terry Wiggins?

Mug-Shot 4x4by:Ryan Snyder•05/02/25•

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Linebacker Terry Wiggins (Credit: Mick Walker | Lettermen Row)

Penn State head coach James Franklin and his staff picked up commitment No. 14 in its Class of 2026 Friday with the addition of four-star prospect Terry Wiggins. Listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Wiggins earned an offer from the Nittany Lions back in October and totaled three visits to Penn State, the most recent of which took place last weekend for the Blue-White Game.

The Coatesville, Pa., native took an official visit to Kentucky the weekend of April 11-13, but has now decided not to go through with his plans to see Cincinnati and Syracuse in June.

Just two weeks ago, Wiggins was upgraded to a four-star prospect by On3, which also made him a four-star in the Industry Rankings. It’s those second rankings that we use to rank each class, giving Penn State eight four-stars and six three-star prospects.

However, since the average number of commitments among Power Four programs remains at seven, Wiggins’ commitment only slightly changed Penn State’s overall score for the time being, moving them from a 90.983 to a 90.995. That change keeps the Nittany Lions at No. 9 for the time being, but also could be enough to see them move up one spot once the average moves from seven to eight.

Understanding On3’s Team Rankings

For those unfamiliar with On3’s Team Rankings, there are two major differences compared to other sites that you need to know.

1) We use the Industry Rankings, which puts together all four major recruiting sites – On3, 247, Rivals and ESPN – to find a cumulative score for each prospect. It’s not just based on On3’s rankings.

2) On3’s Team Recruiting Rankings solve the problem of varying class sizes during the recruiting cycle by totaling the highest-rated commitments for each team based on a rolling average of current total commitments among Power Four schools. That average is currently just seven players since it’s still early in the cycle.

That second point is a major difference compared to 247Sports and Rivals, with both of those sites using a point system that grows throughout the cycle. Because of that, classes that have the most commitments oftentimes rate higher early in the cycle compared to where they finish. On3’s system is designed to give a more accurate projection throughout the cycle of where a particular school is on pace to finish.

Fans can learn more about On3’s Team Recruiting Rankings here.

Around the Big Ten

The Big Ten is off to a strong start in the 2026 class, with four schools currently ranked among the Top 10 nationally. Penn State is the lowest-ranked program among that group, with USC at No. 1, Ohio State at No. 3, and Oregon at No. 7.

The Trojans already have 25 commitments in the class, including two five-star players: linebacker Xavier Griffin and cornerback RJ Sermons. USC also added four-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pope on Thursday. He’s a Top 50 prospect nationally and one of 11 four-stars in the class.

ADDED: USC has since added Top 50 CB Elbert Hill

Ohio State is now up 11 commitments, adding four-star prospects Simeon Caldwell and Brock Boyd in April. Wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and safety Blaine Bradford are both considered five-star prospects now, giving the Buckeyes two five-star players and seven four-star players.

Meanwhile, out in Oregon, the Ducks have lost a few commitments this spring, with four-star prospects Bott Mulitalo and Kodi Greene both switching their commitments elsewhere on April 24. The Ducks now hold seven commitments in the class, including three Top 100 players: tight end Kendre Harrison, running back Tradarian Ball and defensive lineman Tony Cumberland

After Penn State at No. 9, you won’t find another Big Ten program until Iowa at No. 18. The Hawkeyes are followed by Maryland at No. 19 and Washington at No. 24.

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