The Harrisburg High School star has been committed to Penn State since August 19, 2023.
Messiah Mickens of Harrisburg works out with Micah Parsons and other local high school and college football players in Reservoir Park on July 15, 2025. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comAnother major recruit for the Penn State Nittany Lions is reconsidering his options following the firing of head coach James Franklin.
This one is Messiah Mickens, the Harrisburg Class of 2026 star running back and 4-star recruit who has been pledged to Penn State since the start of his sophomore season. “Grateful for everything! But due to unexpected times me and family believes it’s best to re-open my recruitment. Coaches my DM’s are open!He has been out since the second week of this season due to injury for Harrisburg, but in 2025 earned Pa. Gatorade State Player of the Year, rushing for 1214 yards and 21 touchdowns while recording 39 tackles-for-loss and 16 sacks.According to Hayes Fawcett of On3, Mickens is keeping close contact and setting visits with Ohio State, Missouri, South Carolina, Georgia, Miami, Syracuse and Rutgers. Mickens joins some notable Pa.-based names, like Fort Cherry’s Matt Sieg, McKeesport’s Kemon Spell and Pine Richland’s Khalil Taylor, as players who have re-opened their recruitment in the wake of James Franklin’s firing. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our
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