College football recruiting can be such a wild ride, right? Like, one minute you think you’ve got everything locked down, and then suddenly, it’s all up in the air. So, let’s talk about James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions—sounds like they might be feeling the heat this offseason.
So here’s the scoop: they recently lost running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider to Notre Dame. That’s a big blow, because now, one of their top recruits, Messiah Mickens, is looking around and considering other options.
He’s been committed to Penn State since August, but now?“I’m just exploring all my options right now,” he says. That’s got to sting a little bit for Penn State fans.
And it’s not just Mickens who’s feeling the effects. With all these big-name schools shuffling their staffs, the whole landscape of recruiting is like musical chairs, and here’s Mickens playing along. He’s checking out schools like Notre Dame, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Missouri.
Not to mention, he’s got his eye on South Carolina for good measure. And there’s this fun little twist—he’s intrigued by North Carolina partly because of Bill Belichick! Can you imagine?
Plus, he’s already planning some official visits, locking in North Carolina and Notre Dame so far. “I will have the dates by (Friday),” he says. Don’t you just love the suspense? It’s like waiting for that big movie release!
Now, for the stats lovers out there, Mickens is ranked as the No. 10 running back in the nation and the No. 107 overall prospect. Not too shabby, huh? He had an incredible season as the Gatorade Player of the Year in his state, racking up over 1,200 rushing yards and a whopping 21 touchdowns! He even made a mark on the defensive side of things with 81 tackles—this kid is a monster on the field.
But don’t count Penn State out just yet. Mickens did drop this nugget: “It would be super hard for me to leave, honestly. God will give me the sign if it’s right or not.” That’s both super insightful and a little bit mysterious, don’t you think? It really sounds like he’s weighing his options carefully, trying to find the best fit for his future.
So, as the recruiting drama unfolds, we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed and see where Mickens ends up.