Wide receiver Jerquaden Guilford pledged to Penn State football on December 6, 2024, shortly after his unofficial visit in late November, but retracted his commitment on February 28 and reopened his recruitment.
Guilford was initially rated as a three-star recruit, but was elevated to four-star status. He is presently ranked as the No. 315 overall recruit for the class of 2026, No. 50 wide receiver overall, and No. 1 recruit from Indiana.
On July 18, Guilford revealed his new commitment to Ohio State. Following his decommitment from head coach James Franklin’s program, the wide receiver arranged official visits with Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Ole Miss, and Ohio State. As his choice approached, Ohio State seemed to be the most probable option for Guilford. The Rebels, Wolverines, and local Hoosiers were his other three contenders before his announcement.
“Versatile outside receiver capable of gaining separation at every level of the defense and expanding the field vertically,” Hudson Smith noted in his evaluation of the upcoming senior. “. . . Limited output in sophomore and junior years when compared to elite wide receivers in the 2026 cycle, highlighted by an 11.4% catch-to-touchdown conversion ratio.
Sure! Please provide the text you’d like me to paraphrase. Has the physical capabilities and role-specific abilities to possibly experience a significant increase in performance as a senior. Must be seen as a skill-rich outside receiver capable of twisting his body and executing acrobatic grabs at the catch point. Possesses the potential to be a multi-year starter in Power Four and has the physical traits to be worthy of NFL Draft attention in the future.
Even though he had already decommitted from Penn State, losing a third commitment in the 2026 recruiting cycle is troubling for the Nittany Lions.
Three-star offensive lineman Roseby Lubintus was the latest player to switch commitments to the Syracuse Orange on July 9. Four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone revealed his second commitment change of the cycle after selecting Penn State over his initial choice, Virginia Tech, on June 26. Falzone pledged to Auburn, leaving the Nittany Lions with only one quarterback to utilize from the class.
Penn State presently holds the No. 16 overall recruiting class for 2026 with 24 commitments, none of which are five-star recruits. The Nittany Lions have secured commitments from four-star Davion Brown and three-stars Jahsiear Rogers and Lavar Keys as their only wide receivers in the class, but everything remains unofficial until the signing period.
“I desire to be unique, so I must enroll in a distinctive program.” A premier program. “I aspire to become a top receiver,” Guilford stated, as reported by On3. “Top receivers choose Ohio State.”
