The top WPIAL prospect in the class of 2026 kept it simple when announcing his college commitment: “The Best in PA, Stay in PA.”
Penn State’s signature moniker when recruiting in-state was on display as four-star Fort Cherry safety Matt Sieg announced his commitment to James Franklin and the Nittany Lions via X Saturday afternoon.
Sieg selects Penn State over other offers such as West Virginia, Pitt, USC, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan State, Virginia, Rutgers, Maryland, Syracuse and others.
He was confirmed to be in Happy Valley on Saturday to watch No. 3 Penn State take on No. 4 Ohio State with heavy Big 10 and College Football Playoff implications on the line.
The 6-foot, 180-pound prospect holds a four-star ranking from Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN. According to 247Sports, Sieg ranks as the 137th prospect in the nation, the 12th-ranked safety and the third-best player in the state of Pa.
Penn State area recruiter and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith, along with safeties coach Anthony Poindexter have formed a strong relationship with Sieg.
“It’s been great,” Sieg told Nittany Sports Now in Sept. “He (Poindexter) texts me every other day. I FaceTime with him and Coach Tom Allen and Coach Franklin pretty much every week. We have a great relationship. Every time I go up there, it’s always fun to hang out with him and the safeties.”
A lifelong fan, Sieg’s connection with Penn State goes back a long time. His father Jeff, an assistant coach for Fort Cherry High School in McDonald, Pennsylvania, could see Beaver Stadium from his house growing up, so he was a Penn State guy.
Sieg’s recruitment heated up after an impressive sophomore season in which he led Fort Cherry at quarterback to its first WPIAL title. Sieg has followed that up with another excellent regular-season campaign with 1,155 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground.
In September, Sieg became the first WPIAL player to surpass 5,000 rushing yards and 3,000 passing yards.
With the commitment of Sieg, Penn State continues its recruiting dominance in the WPIAL.
Current high school Penn State commits:
- 2025 4-star LB Dayshaun Burnett from Imani Christian Academy
- 2025 4-star LB Alex Tatsch from Greater Latrobe
- 2025 4-star RB Tiqwai Hayes from Aliquippa
- 2025 4-star ATH Brady O’Hara from North Catholic
- 2025 3-star DB Xxavier Thomas from Central Catholic
- 2026 4-star S Matt Sieg from Fort Cherry
- 2027 4-star RB Kemon Spell from McKeesport
“His father Jeff, an assistant coach for Fort Cherry High School in McDonald, Pennsylvania, could see Beaver Stadium from his house growing up,”
That means he experienced the manure smell of state college every day and still he recommended his son go to ped state? I’m genuinely shocked.
It was a great place to grow up, Randino. Nothing wrong with some fresh country air. I think he’ll do just fine. And there’s nothing like game day in Happy Valley! Worry ’bout yourself!
I hope they all enjoy watching Penn State lose to Ohio State today. It’s become an annual tradition there.
The best in pa aren’t even top 20 players in the premier talent rich states in the south pa used to produce a bunch of 5 stars every cycle those days have been long over for a couple decades. Fort Cherry plays against little tiny schools in the middle of nowhere.
Nice job Marty. What are YOU doing to contribute? Just watch him play.
There’s only 30 five-stars each cycle/year. Pennsylvania never produced a ‘bunch’ in a single cycle. The most we ever produced was 2 or 3 in a single cycle.
The reality is that very few schools get more than 1 or 2 five stars in a given year. And when they do it year after year, they basically become unbeatable for most teams. That’s why a school that gets none, can still have a top-10 recruiting class if they stack up a bunch of four stars.
Where is the parental guidance of these players?
Who wouldn’t want to go to Penn State and choke every year? 😂
But muh top recruits!
Chokers!
And another signs up to be a Buckeye female dog.
Hope he enjoys losing to OSU, Oregon and Michigan every year
H2P. (Haha)