Penn State football coach James Franklin secures critical 2026 recruiting win with 4-star LB

Penn State's championship contender status won't be going away anytime soon, especially when glancing at its 2026 football recruiting class.

Monday, more damage was done when four-star linebacker Mathieu Lamah pledged to coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions instead of Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Rutgers, Kentucky, or Michigan, to name a few.

1000% committed #weare🦁🦁@PatriotHS_FB @FinnertySean @PWCsportsVA @BrianDohn247 @SWiltfong_ @adamgorney @PennStateFball @coachjfranklin @Coachdanconnor @ZemaitisTouch_ pic.twitter.com/iUJpnTyjKh

Lamah had always zeroed in on the Nittany Lions as his top choice after gaining a better understanding of the culture they had built at the position over the years and what they are currently trying to maintain: excellence.

"It means a lot to go to such a profound and structured team that is known for being in title contention and being in the top 10 year after year," Lamah told 247Sports. 

Lamah told On3 shortly after his commitment that the environment of being in State College for the first time allowed him to visit earlier this spring to seal the deal eventually.

“The first time I was there, I went to the White Out game," Lamah said. "It was just a regular visit, and I really hadn’t talked with them much yet. Obviously, those types of games, you’re not going to get much time to talk to their coaches, but I remember being on the [sideline] and just watching all the other recruits that were offered go out on the field. Then, seeing the atmosphere there, all the people in white, it really sparked something in me to work harder and to get that offer."

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According to 247 Sports, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker hails from Nokesville, Virginia, and is a top-20 player in the state. With another year to go, the sky is the limit for how much better Lamah can get by the time he arrives on campus.

The recruiting service ranks the Nittany Lions' class as the fourth-best in the nation, as 15 prospects have given their verbal.

For now, the Nittany Lions are behind Ohio State, Notre Dame and USC for the nation's top spot as time still remains in the cycle.