4-star LB commits to Penn State’s top-10 Class of 2026

After a couple of quiet weeks on the recruiting trail, Penn State is back on the board amid its official visits.

Four-star defender Elijah Littlejohn committed to the Nittany Lions on Monday, boosting the 2026 class to 20 members. Out of West Charlotte High School in North Carolina, he’s the No. 377 prospect nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s a four-star by 247’s own rankings but a three-star elsewhere.

247 labels Littlejohn as an edge rusher, while On3 denotes him a linebacker. In reality, his high school tape shows a little bit of both, playing in the box, as an outside linebacker in coverage or as a standup pass rusher.

Littlejohn (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) came to Penn State for an official visit June 6, just his second time in Happy Valley overall after an April offer. He’d previously been to Virginia Tech and was at Georgia Tech this past weekend. He had a final official visit set for N.C. State this coming weekend, but it’s unclear if he’ll still make it there.

He posted 84 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 14 sacks as a junior, per MaxPreps.

Penn State’s 2026 class ranked No. 7 nationally before this addition. James Franklin has two linebackers committed, Terry Wiggins and Mathieu Lamah. Wiggins has worked as a true 3-4 outside linebacker, while Lamah’s skills are more suited as an in-the-box thumper. Penn State does not have a true defensive end/edge rusher committed at this point, as four-star Daniel Jennings recently reclassified to the 2025 cycle.

Franklin last signed a player from North Carolina in 2024: offensive lineman Eagan Boyer.