Class of 2026 four-star cornerback Jaziel Hart is headed to Penn State after announcing his commitment to the Nittany Lions over Michigan in a wild reveal on Thursday.
Hart (6-foot, 170 pounds) plays for North Cross High School in Roanoke, Virginia. According to On3, the highly-touted cornerback ranks as the No. 35 player at the position and the No. 7 player in his state.
Five major programs made Hart’s final list, including Penn State, Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame.
Hart held a live commitment on Thursday at North Cross High, joined by his family and some of his teammates.
After On3’s Josh Newberg asked where Hart would be playing college football, he briefly donned a Michigan hat before tossing it aside and putting on a Penn State hat while unveiling a Nittany Lions’ jersey.
Wolverines’ fans had a short-lived glimpse of a key recruiting win before Hart’s interesting move marked the victory for Penn State and head coach James Franklin.
“This is it. I know where I want to be,” Hart said via On3. “This commitment is really me shutting my recruitment down unless something crazy happens. Penn State is where I want to be.”
Hart previously took unofficial visits to both Penn State and Tennessee. His trip to State College to witness the Nittany Lions’ spring game appears to have been a key experience.
“I was there the day before the spring game and I knew my mind was made up then,” Hart said. “It felt right and I knew there was no reason to hold it in. Penn State did everything correctly with me and the place and the people fit me.”
Penn State’s 2026 class is shaping up to be one of the best in the country. The group includes 17 commits with eight four-star recruits, ranking 11th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten.
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Elite CB Spurns Michigan For Penn State In Chaotic Commitment Reveal first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025