Penn State football moves a step closer to land two premier 2026 defensive linemen, and their talents are nearly identical
Penn State football has been on quite the roll developing NFL pass rushers in recent years. That included defensive end Abdul Carter, who is an elite prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class. It’s not shocking to see that track record, with Carter as the latest example, that the Nittany Lions are attracting some big […]
Penn State football has been on quite the roll developing NFL pass rushers in recent years. That included defensive end Abdul Carter, who is an elite prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class. It’s not shocking to see that track record, with Carter as the latest example, that the Nittany Lions are attracting some big time defensive line recruits.
That includes a pair of twin brothers in 2026 Matthews (N.C.) Weddington defensive linemen Aiden and Andrew Harris. The North Carolina standouts released a top ten schools list on Thursday, that included some heavy hitters. Included in that top group were Penn State, Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, Miami, Florida, Auburn, South Carolina, NC State, and Maryland.
Between the two brothers, they were a big part of what made for such a potent Weddington defense in 2024. The twins combined for 163 total tackles, 56 tackles for loss, and 20.5 sacks. They also posted another 82 quarterback hurries, and four forced fumbles.
Between the two, Aiden is rated highest. He currently sits as the No. 40 overall player, No. 2 defensive lineman, and No. 4 player in the state of North Carolina on 247Sports Composite ranking. The 6-3, 240-pound pass rusher is viewed as one of the elite players in the 2026 recruiting class.
On that same ranking, Andrew is rated as the No. 313 overall player, No. 38 defensive lineman, and No. 16 player in the state. He stands at 6-2 and 235 pounds, and holds 37 total scholarship offers. That is just one offer less than what his brother holds.
The two brothers are viewed as a packaged deal from a recruiting perspective. They have four official visits set up to Penn State, South Carolina, NC State, and Auburn. Funny enough, Aiden has an expert prediction to end up with Ohio State and nothing has been logged for Andrew. There is a lot of recruitment left for the Nittany Lions to impress.
James Franklin reveals what he's most excited for in 2025 after waiting 12 years at Penn State
The Penn State Nittany Lions are looking to replicate the Ohio State Buckeyes' path to a national championship. Bringing back as many veteran players as possible isn't a groundbreaking concept, but Penn State's NIL development and the program's culture made it possible. As Penn State head coach James Franklin looks to change some of the […]
