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Four-star DE Tyson Harley flips commitment from Penn State to Virginia Tech

Mug-Shot 4x4by: Ryan Snyder12/03/25RyanSnyderOn3

One of Penn State’s most exciting 2026 prospects is now headed elsewhere.

On Tuesday evening, four-star edge rusher Tyson Harley announced that he no longer plans to be a Nittany Lion and will instead follow former head coach James Franklin to Virginia Tech. His announcement comes after he took an official visit to Blacksburg this past weekend.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound defensive end was Penn State’s highest-ranked recruit in the class, according to Rivals.

“Tyson Harley is an edge prospect that we’ve been high on for a while,” said Rivals Scouting Director Charles Power. “There’s a lot to like about him. He’s not the tallest pass rusher, but he still has adequate height. He’s around 6-2 and a half to 6-3. He has good size and plus length. You see his long arms and athleticism show up on tape. He also plays alongside five-star edge Carter Meadows and he was the most productive guy on that team. I think that says a lot. This guy can really get after the quarterback.

“I like his athleticism, especially when it comes to running down plays on backside pursuit. He’s quick off the snap and just really fits the type of pass rusher that Penn State has had a lot of success with recently. When you think about Penn State’s defense, it’s all about pinning your ears back, getting after the quarterback and guys who excel at changing direction. Their guys can also beat offensive tackles with speed or power. Tyson Harley has the ability to do that.”

Prior to committing to Penn State, Harley took official visits to Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers and Virginia Tech. He was allowed to take a second official visit to Blacksburg because of the coaching change.

According to the Industry Rankings, Harley is a four-star prospect, ranked No. 314 nationally, No. 31 at defensive end and No. 2 overall in Washington, D.C., for his class. However, as mentioned, Rivals rates him substantially higher at No. 152 nationally and 19th overall at defensive end.