Penn State Secures Commitment from 2026 New Jersey Offensive Lineman Marlen Bright
Penn State bolstered its 2026 recruiting class with the addition of 3-star offensive lineman Marlen Bright from New Jersey. Bright made his decision official on Saturday.
The DePaul Catholic standout chose the Nittany Lions over a top-3 group that also included Illinois and West Virginia. Bright, who had received offers from several other programs like North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Washington, and Florida State, is ranked as the eighth-best player in New Jersey and a top-50 lineman nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Standing 6-6 and weighing 260 pounds, Bright has visited Penn State multiple times over the past year, including an official visit in May and a camp appearance in June. He also attended a Penn State junior day event earlier this winter. Bright is currently ranked 567th nationally in the 247Sports Composite.
What Marlen Bright’s Commitment Means for Penn State
With Bright’s commitment, Penn State now has three offensive tackles in its 2026 class, joining Kevin Brown from Harrisburg and Jack Fuchs from Tennessee. Brown is ranked as the eighth-best offensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports Composite.
Bright’s commitment comes on the heels of a regional miss for the Nittany Lions in the offensive line recruitment. On July 3, 5-star lineman Immanuel Iheanacho chose Oregon over Penn State, LSU, and Auburn. Iheanacho, the 22nd-ranked player nationally, was the highest-ranked target remaining on Penn State’s 2026 board.
Bright is the 24th player to commit to Penn State’s 2026 class, though the Nittany Lions have fallen from 5th to 14th in the national rankings according to the 247Sports Composite. The class has also slipped behind Oregon and Michigan in the Big Ten.
Recruiting rankings tend to shift significantly in early July, with the summer marking the unofficial start of the commitment season. Penn State remains in the hunt for more top-tier recruits, including 3-star defensive standout Tyson Harley from Washington, D.C., who is set to announce his decision on Saturday night.
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