Penn State loses Class of '26 commitment from in-state DL Tavian Branch

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The fallout from James Franklin’s firing continues to hit Penn State’s recruiting class. Class of 2026 defensive lineman Tavian Branch became the latest recruit to decommit from the Nittany Lions, leaving the program without a single interior defensive lineman in this cycle. Branch’s decision adds to the growing list of decommits as Penn State continues its head coaching search and program reset.

Tavian Branch, a three-star prospect out of Pennsylvania, made his decision public via On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Branch had only been committed to Penn State for about two months before reopening his recruitment. His decommitment is a direct reaction to the coaching change, as he now reevaluates his options with James Franklin no longer leading the program.

Per the 247Sports Composite rankings, Branch is the No. 15 overall player in Pennsylvania, the No. 58 defensive lineman nationally, and ranks No. 513 among all Class of 2026 prospects. While those numbers may not jump off the page, he was viewed as a key piece to Penn State’s defensive front in a class that’s already taken a hit.

Branch becomes the 17th decommit in the 2026 class for Penn State, a number that highlights how much turnover and uncertainty the program is facing on the recruiting trail. His departure also leaves the Nittany Lions without any interior linemen in this group. Four-star edge rusher Jackson Ford remains committed on the outside, but depth in the middle of the line has become a concern.

Before choosing Penn State, Branch had serious interest from SEC programs like Ole Miss and Auburn, and Big Ten rival Maryland. He recently took visits to both Ole Miss and Auburn in November, signaling that his recruiting process is heating back up again with those schools likely back in the mix.

For Penn State, this is another setback during a chaotic stretch. With Franklin heading to Virginia Tech and staff members following him, the program is in flux. Until a new head coach is named and stability is restored, it’s fair to expect more changes in the recruiting landscape.

Losing Branch hurts, not just because of his potential, but because of what it signals. The Nittany Lions are bleeding talent in a recruiting class that was already slipping. If Pat Kraft wants to keep this class from completely falling apart, finding the right head coach and fast is priority number one.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Tavian Branch decommits from Penn State football’s Class of 2026

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