Penn State Extends Offer to Top Unsigned Michigan State Commit
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The vast majority of Michigan State's 2026 recruiting class has signed and is locked in with the Spartans, but there is one key player still exploring his options.
Four-star wide receiver Samson Gash, who has been verbally pledged to MSU since June, said on Monday morning that he had received an offer from Penn State. The Nittany Lions formally introduced former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell as their new head coach minutes later.
Gash plans to sign in February as he weighs his options. According to a report by Allen Trieu, Gash is planning on visiting Penn State in January, as well. He also visited Alabama in November.
According to 247Sports, Gash also took an unofficial visit to Happy Valley back in November 2024, when James Franklin was the head coach. It was the weekend of the Nittany Lions' annual "White Out," which ended up being a 35-9 Penn State victory over Washington.
This is a recruit that new MSU head coach Pat Fitzgerald would definitely love to hold onto. Gash is the third-best recruit in the Spartans' 2026 class, ranked 292nd overall on the Rivals Industry Ranking. He is also really, really quick, having run a 10.41-second 100-meter dash.
Familial Connections for Gash
Helping Michigan State's case is that Gash's brother, Caleb Gash, just completed his redshirt sophomore season as a defensive back with the Spartans.
Caleb was set to have a big role on the team's special teams units, but was ruled out for the season following the season opener against Western Michigan. Assuming he were to be granted a medical waiver, that could allow him and Samson to overlap in college for three years.
Samson does have connections to the Nittany Lions, though. His father, Sam Gash, was a fullback at Penn State from 1987-1991. He became an eighth-round selection by the New England Patriots in the 1992 NFL Draft, which became a 12-year career in the pros that featured two Pro Bowls, two second-team All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl ring with the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.
It doesn't stop there. Samson has another brother, Isaiah Gash, who was at Michigan from 2020-2022, but had to medically retire back in 2023. He totaled 142 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns during 11 total appearances with the Wolverines.
Basically, Samson Gash and his family are used to this level of athletics and are especially knowledgeable of how the recruiting process works, given that he has seen multiple older brothers go through it.
It's going to be a big challenge for Fitzgerald to keep Gash from flipping, but if Gash becomes a Spartan, that would be a major victory for Fitzgerald in the early days of his MSU tenure.
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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