Will Penn State football land the top recruit in Pa.? Get to know Joey O’Brien

One of the most important Penn State football recruits in the 2026 cycle may be about to announce his college decision.

Will Glenside, Pa.’s Joey O’Brien raise up the Nittany Lions’ impressive recruiting haul − potentially the highest-rated class ever under coach James Franklin?

One of the top prospects in Pennsylvania and one of the best safety recruits in the nation may make his decision public on Friday, according to multiple national industry sites.

O’Brien (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) is rated as the No. 1 recruit in the state by On.3.com and a prestigious 5-star talent by 247Sports. All view him as a Top 10 safety prospect nationally.

He is from LaSalle College High − the alma mater of former PSU defensive end Abdul Carter, the third pick in April’s NFL Draft.

O’Brien, reportedly, is choosing between his home state Nittany Lions, Notre, Dame, Clemson and Oregon.

He’s coveted, in part, because of his elite versatility. He may be just as talented as a receiver on offense (He caught 68 passes for 1,029 yards last fall) and could play on either side of the ball in college, if not both.

“Viewed by some college coaches as a defensive back and others as a wide receiver, but ceiling appears to be highest as a coverage ace that can shade passing windows and create takeaways …,” 247Sports scouting director Andrew Ivins wrote in his scouting report on O’Brien.

“Overall, should be viewed as one of the more unique prospects in the 2026 cycle given the fact that he could fit into a variety of different roles for a College Football Playoff contender.”

Penn State already has verbal commitments from four of the top six Pennsylvania prospects in the 2026 class − Harrisburg offensive tackle Kevin Brown and running back Messiah Mickens, Fort Cherry safety Matt Seig and Nazareth quarterback Peyton Falzone, according to the 247Sports Composite.

The Lions’ 20-member class, which is still growing, is ranked as high as fifth nationally (third in the Big Ten) − a little more than two months before the 2025 season and six months before high school prospects can make their verbal commitments binding.

Their highest final recruiting ranking under Franklin was No. 6, most recently in 2022 − a group headlined by quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen and defensive ends Dani Dennis-Sutton and Carter.

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

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