Miami Has Its Eye on Another Penn State Running Back Commit

The Miami Hurricanes love the idea of adding another running back to their stacked 2026 Recruiting Class.

Harrisburg running back Messiah Mickens breaks free on an 89-yard touchdown run in the second half of a District 3 Class 6A quarterfinal game against Dallastown, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Severance Field in Harrisburg. | Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Recruiting is about to become one of the biggest focuses of the Miami Hurricanes as national signing day nears. There are so many things that are coming out now with the moves of coaches being let go in this wild year.

That started with James Franklin at Penn State, and now the future remains unclear for a few commits, one being Messiah Mickens.

The four-star running back has reopened his recruiting but stays committed to the Nittany Lions, according to Hayes Fawcett of Rivals. Ohio State, Miami, Rutgers, Missouri, Georgia, Syracuse, and South Carolina remain in contention with the talented back as he looks for new options.

Four-Star Penn State RB commit Messiah Mickens has re-opened his recruitment but remains committed, he tells me for @Rivals

Mickens says he’s keeping close contact with/setting OVs with these 7 schoolshttps://t.co/9sysnQK6zd pic.twitter.com/k3zqqixmT9

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 14, 2025

The Hurricanes only have one running back commit in this class, with a deep roster of young players now getting a chance to shine and grow. With this possible addition, he would join Javian Mallory in the stacked running back room.

Class of 2026 Commitments

1. CB Camdin Portis, 6-foot, 165 lbs. - Charlotte, North Carolina (Committed 10/27/2024)
2. LB Jordan Campbell, 6-foot-2, 200 lbs. - Opa Locka, Florida (Committed 11/21/2023)
3. QB Dereon Coleman, 5-foot-11, 165 lbs. - Orlando, Florida (Committed 07/03/2024)
4. OT Ben Congdon, 6-foot-7, 270 lbs. - Mineral City, Ohio (Committed 3/3/2025)
5. CB, Jaelen Waters, 6-foot-2, 185 lbs. - Seffner, Florida (Committed 3/7/2025)
6. RB, Javian Mallory, 5-foot-11, 205 lbs. - Boca Raton, Florida (Committed 3/22/2025)
7. OL, Joel Ervin, 6-foot-6, 280 lbs. - Fort Myers, Florida (Committed 3/29/2025)
8. OT, JJ Sparks, 6-foot-4, 295 lbs. - Jacksonville, Florida (Committed 4/2/2025)
9. CB, Jontavius Wyman, 5-foot-11, 170 lbs. - Jonesboro, Georgia (Committed 4/6/2025)
10. OL, Jackson Cantwell, 6-foot-7.5, 315 lbs. - Nixa, Missouri (Committed 5/13/2025)
11. OL, Rhys Woodrow, 6-foot-4, 310 lbs. - Orlando, Florida (Committed 5/24/2025)
12. OL, Canon Pickett, 6-foot-4, 320 lbs. - Tampa, Florida (Committed 6/10/2025)
13. DL, Tyson Bacon, 6-foot-3, 263 lbs. - Hoover, Alabama (Committed 6/10/25)
14. DE, Asharri Charles, 6-foot-2 and 230 lbs. - Venice, Florida (Committed 6/22/25)
15. WR, Vance Spafford, 5-foot-11, Mission Viejo, California (Committed 6/23/25)
16. TE, Israel Briggs, 6-foot-5, 210 lbs. - Visalia, California (Committed 6/24/25)
17. WR, Tyran Evans, 6-foot-3, 185 lbs - Cornelius, North Carolina (Committed 6/25/25)
18. DL, Anthony Kennedy Jr., 6-foot-5, 330 lbs. - Little Rock, Arkansas (Committed 6/27/25)
19. CB, Brody Jennings, 6-foot-1, 175 lbs. - Jacksonville, Florida (Committed 7/5/25)
20. WR, Somourian Wingo, 6-foot-2, 185 lbs. - St. Augustine, Florida (Committed 7/17/25)

Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University and is the site lead for the Miami Hurricanes on SI. He can be reached at Twitter @Justice_News5.

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