2026 Commit Will Join Penn State’s 2025 Roster Instead
Daniel Jennings, a 4-star defensive end from West Virginia, has made the decision to enroll at Penn State a year early, joining the Nittany Lions’ 2025 roster.
In recent years, college football recruits have been gaining an edge by enrolling early to participate in spring practice. Now, some players are taking it a step further by reclassifying to enter college a year ahead of schedule. Jennings, a standout defensive lineman, is the latest to follow this path, making him one of two players in the past two years to do so at Penn State.
Originally committed to Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class, Jennings will now join the 2025 class. He plans to graduate early from Princeton High School in West Virginia and will be on campus this summer to take part in training camp with the Nittany Lions. Jennings confirmed his reclassification in an interview with On3’s Steve Wiltfong, stating, “I have enrolled in homeschool and will be graduating this year and signing with Penn State’s ’25 class in a few weeks.”
As I prepare to move on to new adventures, I want to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation for the incredible journey I’ve had at PSHS. The lessons learned, friendships formed, and memories created here will always hold a special place in my heart.🦁💙
✌🏽3️⃣out… #RR🕊️ pic.twitter.com/fIVePzROMr— Daniel Jennings (@DanielJennings_) May 16, 2025
Jennings committed to Penn State in August 2024, right as the Nittany Lions were gearing up for their record-setting 13-win season and a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He’s ranked as the top player in West Virginia by the 247Sports Composite and was also included in the ESPN300 for the 2026 class. His recruitment had offers from programs like Illinois and West Virginia before he chose Penn State.
Standing 6-2 and weighing 220 pounds, Jennings told Wiltfong he gained 20 pounds during the offseason. Prior to joining Princeton High, he played at Graham High in Virginia. In his final season at Princeton, he earned first-team all-state honors in Class 3A after rushing for 1,373 yards, 23 touchdowns, and recording 10 sacks.
Jennings’ decision to enroll early makes him the second player in the last two years to graduate ahead of schedule and join Penn State’s roster. Last year, defensive end Max Granville graduated early from Fort Bend Christian Academy in Texas and made an immediate impact, playing in seven games, including three postseason matchups. Granville is expected to play a key role in the defensive line this season.
Penn State head coach James Franklin spoke about Granville’s early enrollment process, noting how committed the player was to joining the team early. “He was taking summer classes to ensure he could come at mid-semester,” Franklin said, reflecting on the effort involved in bringing Granville to campus.
With Jennings reclassifying, Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class now sits at 16 commits, and its ranking has slightly dropped from No. 4 to No. 5 in the 247Sports Composite.
The Nittany Lions will open the 2025 season on August 30 against Nevada at Beaver Stadium.
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