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Where does Penn State now sit in the 2026 Team Recruiting Rankings following David Davis?

Mug-Shot 4x4by:Ryan Snyder•about 21 hours•

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Imani Christian prospect David Davis. (Credit: Ryan Snyder | Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State head coach James Franklin and his staff picked up commitment No. 9 in its Class of 2026 Tuesday with the addition of Pittsburgh native David Davis. Listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, Davis earned an offer from the Nittany Lions when he was a freshman and has visited eight times over that span. In fact, the Imani Christian prospect decided to end his recruitment while on campus today to watch spring practice.

A four-star recruit by both On3 and in the Industry Rankings, Davis is ranked No. 346 nationally, according to the industry average. He’s the 19th-ranked athlete and No. 9 overall in Pennsylvania. He’s also the sixth four-star prospect to commit in the class.

On3’s Team Rankings are currently only counting the top six players in each class – more on that below – so the addition of Davis did impact Penn State’s standing, moving them up one spot ahead of Auburn to No. 7 nationally. The class currently has a grade of 90.852.

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 five 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 rank higher early in the cycle compared to where they finish.

So, if you’re wondering why Penn State sometimes ranks lower at On3 when compared to sites like 247 and Rivals, it’s because we’re aiming to project where the Nittany Lions are 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 teams currently ranked among the Top 10 nationally. In addition to Penn State, you’ll find USC and Oregon ranked second and third, respectively, with Ohio State ranked fifth.

The Trojans have already earned 15 commitments, including 10 players who hold a four-star rating. As of late March, six of those four-star players also rank among the Top 100 players in the nation. The top three prospects are linebacker Xavier Griffin and cornerbacks RJ Sermons and Brandon Lockhart.

The Ducks finished as the top-ranked Big Ten program in 2025 and they’ll likely finish among the nation’s very best in 2026. Among their nine commitments currently, Oregon has seven four-star players or better, four of whom rank among the Top 100. That includes five-star tight end Kendre Harrison, who was previously recruited by Penn State. The other three are offensive tackle Kodi Greene, running back Tradarian Ball and defensive lineman Tony Cumberland.

Ohio State just picked up its latest commitment Tuesday with the addition of four-star offensive lineman Sam Greer. The Buckeyes now have six commitments in the class, five of whom hold a four-star rating. However, unlike in 2025, when the Buckeyes finished with six Top 100 players, they currently have just one in five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr.

After Penn State at No. 7 overall, you won’t find another Big Ten program until Maryland at No. 18 overall. The Terps hold just three commitments, one of whom is five-star edge rusher Zion Elee. Illinois and Iowa round out the Top 25 at No. 20 and 21, respectively.

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