Penn State has successfully flipped wide receiver Ben Whitver from his previous commitment to James Madison, securing his place in the 2026 recruiting class. This announcement came on Saturday following Whitver”s release from the Dukes after coach Bob Chesney transitioned to UCLA.
Whitver, a three-star recruit standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 190 pounds, ranks as the 1,008th player in his class according to the 247Sports Composite. He holds the distinction of being Virginia”s all-time leader in receiving yards, amassing a remarkable total of 3,501 yards during his high school career. Additionally, he ranks third in all-time receptions in the state with 209 catches.
The Nittany Lions have been monitoring Whitver for some time, having hosted him on four separate visits while James Franklin was still the head coach. With Matt Campbell now at the helm, Whitver sees an opportunity to join the storied program in Happy Valley. This addition may prove to be a valuable, understated acquisition, as Campbell and his coaching staff have demonstrated an ability to identify hidden talent during their tenure at Iowa State.
With Whitver”s commitment, Penn State now boasts a total of ten recruits for the 2026 class, marking Whitver as the fourth addition this week alone. He joins linebacker Keian Kaiser, offensive lineman Pete Eglitis, and Mason Bandhauer in strengthening the team”s future roster.
As the recruiting landscape continues to evolve, Whitver”s arrival at Penn State signals a significant step forward for the program under Campbell”s guidance.
