The recruiting momentum keeps rolling in Happy Valley, as Penn State landed a commitment from 2026 cornerback Jaziel Hart on Thursday afternoon. Hart, a three-star prospect and the No. 44 cornerback nationally per the 247Sports Composite, made his announcement during a YouTube livestream with On3 — playfully teasing a Michigan hat before revealing his decision to join the Nittany Lions.
Hart plays for North Cross School in Roanoke, Virginia, and becomes the 17th commitment in Penn State’s 2026 class. Despite losing top defensive end Daniel Jennings to reclassification for the 2025 cycle, James Franklin’s program still ranked No. 5 nationally heading into Thursday.
Hart chose Penn State over a final five that included Notre Dame, Michigan, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech. His early commitment came as a surprise, considering he was scheduled to begin official visits this weekend — starting with Virginia Tech and followed by trips to Penn State, Tennessee, and Michigan. However, strong recruiting efforts from cornerbacks coach Terry Smith and head coach James Franklin may have sealed the deal early.
It’s unclear whether Hart will still take his remaining visits, but his connection to Virginia Tech ran deep. Hokies head coach Brent Pry — Penn State’s former defensive coordinator — had hosted Hart in Blacksburg seven times, more than any other school. Still, the allure of Penn State ultimately proved too strong.
At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Hart becomes the fifth defensive back in the Nittany Lions’ 2026 class, joining safeties Matt Sieg and Darrell Carey, fellow corner Julian Peterson, and athlete David Davis.
Penn State isn’t done yet either — the coaching staff is still pursuing other highly regarded defensive backs, including La Salle (Pa.) safety Joey O’Brien and Loyola Blakefield (Md.) cornerback Khary Adams, both of whom visited campus last weekend.
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