2026 three-star DL Alexander Haskell breaks down dedication to Penn State

[ad_1] 2026 three-star DL Alexander Haskell breaks down dedication to Penn State

Class of 2026 three-star defensive finish/defensive sort out Alexander Haskell is a Nittany Lion. He introduced his verbal dedicated to Penn State on Friday, stay streaming his ceremony by way of Instagram.

He selected Penn State over fellow finalists Duke, Michigan and Syracuse.

Haskell, out of St. Joseph's Preparatory in Philadelphia, at present ranks because the No. 24 prospect within the state of Pennsylvania and the No. 39 defensive finish within the 2026 cycle.

It means so much to Haskell to have the ability to play for his home-state program and play underneath PSU head coach James Franklin, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and defensive position coach Deion Barnes sooner or later.

"I selected to decide to Penn State as a result of they have been the primary college that mentioned they believed in me and I've been up there so much and it’s all the time felt like dwelling," Haskell instructed Rivals.com. "Additionally, taking part in in my dwelling state in entrance of 100,000-plus folks shall be a really cool expertise."

Haskell has constructed a powerful bond with Barnes, his future place coach, over the previous few years. He additionally has plenty of respect for Franklin's accomplishments and appears ahead to taking part in for him.

Whereas Knowles is newer to Penn State's workers (he was employed in late January), Haskell shares a reference to the defensive coordinator, as Knowles is also a Philadelphia native who attended St. Joe's Prep.

"I'm closest to Coach Barnes as a result of he was the precise coach that instructed me at a camp my freshman 12 months that he believed in me," Haskell defined. "Coach Knowles can also be an awesome man and from St. Joe's Prep, so we have now much more similarities than I assumed. Coach Franklin is the person and some of the revered coaches within the sport and he’s produced plenty of expertise and I really feel like I can add to that."

As he talked about, Haskell has been a frequent customer to Comfortable Valley. His final journey to Penn State's campus was roughly three weeks in the past and he was capable of watch the Nittany Lions work throughout a spring follow.

"Spring follow was actually good and I felt like I can see myself doing that daily," Haskell mentioned about his most up-to-date go to to Penn State.

He plans to return to College Park for an official go to with Penn State through the weekend of Could 30 by way of June 1.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Haskell is a flexible defensive lineman with a tireless motor and fast go off of the snap. He can play on the skin as a defensive finish or on the within as a defensive sort out.

The precise spot he'll play at Penn State is undermined as of now, however the Nittany Lions know that Haskell's versatility alongside the defensive position shall be helpful.

"They assume I will be both one relying on how I do once I get there, and that was all the time my aim to only have the ability to be versatile and get on the sphere as quick as potential," Haskell mentioned when requested about taking part in defensive finish or defensive sort out.

Haskell helped lead St. Joe's Prep to an 11-2 report and a PIAA Class 6A state championship in 2024. It was the third-straight title for the Hawks.

Along with the faculties already talked about, Haskell acquired scholarship presents from Boston School, Indiana, Miami (FL.), Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Wisconsin and others.

Regardless of the various choices, Haskell knew Penn State was dwelling.

"Simply the expertise they’ve produced and the coaches are real, and it’s in my dwelling state, so you'll be able to’t go improper," Haskell mentioned when requested what stands out most about Penn State's program.