4-Star QB Target Impressed by Penn State Culture and Program

Quarterback Will Mencl sees Penn State as a place where he can develop and thrive.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:40pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a quarterback in motion, with sharp planes of blue, white, green, and yellow representing the competing schools vying for his talents.A cubist interpretation of a top quarterback recruit's decision-making process, as Penn State and Oregon vie for his commitment.Happy Valley Today

Penn State football made a strong impression on four-star quarterback recruit Will Mencl during his multi-day visit to Happy Valley. Mencl, who is ranked among the top quarterbacks in the 2026 class, was initially planning to visit Miami after his time at Penn State, but ended up extending his stay in Happy Valley after Miami landed another quarterback. The Nittany Lions were able to showcase their program, facilities, and culture to Mencl, who came away feeling that Penn State could be a great fit for his development.

Why it matters

Landing a top quarterback recruit like Mencl would be a major coup for Penn State's football program, as they look to continue building momentum and competing for Big Ten titles. Mencl is a highly sought-after prospect, with Oregon currently considered the favorite, so Penn State making a strong impression and keeping themselves in the running is significant.

The details

During his extended visit, Mencl was able to spend time with the Penn State coaching staff, tour the campus and facilities, and get a feel for the program's culture. His mother, Amy, said the visit was 'lovely' and that the culture under head coach James Campbell will be 'amazing.' Mencl himself noted that he sees a quarterback room where he can be competitive as a young player, and was impressed by the academics as well as the campus and facilities.

  • Mencl originally planned to visit Miami after his time at Penn State.
  • However, Miami landed another quarterback recruit while Mencl was at Penn State, so he ended up extending his stay in Happy Valley.

The players

Will Mencl

A four-star quarterback recruit from Arizona who is ranked among the top players at his position in the 2026 class.

Amy Mencl

The mother of quarterback recruit Will Mencl, who provided positive feedback about Penn State's culture and program after her son's visit.

James Campbell

The head coach of the Penn State football team, who made a strong impression on Mencl and his family during the recruit's visit.

Israel Abrams

A quarterback recruit who committed to Miami while Mencl was visiting Penn State, leading Mencl to extend his stay in Happy Valley.

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What they’re saying

“They gave [Mencl] a lot to think about. I talked to his mother, Amy, first, then talked to [Mencl]; and his mom said it was a lovely visit, said the culture there is going to be amazing with coach Campbell and the staff . . . They thoroughly enjoyed [the visit].”

— Steve Wiltfong, Recruiting Expert

“He sees a quarterback room where he can be competitive as a young player . . . really enjoyed being around the staff, pointed to the academics as well as something that really caught his eye. Then [Mencl] talked about the incredible campus, the great facilities.”

— Steve Wiltfong, Recruiting Expert

What’s next

Mencl has a visit to Oregon scheduled for the back half of April, and a decision is expected to come soon after that. Penn State has kept themselves in the running, but Oregon is still considered the favorite to land the top quarterback recruit.

The takeaway

Penn State's ability to make a strong impression on Mencl during his extended visit to Happy Valley has kept them in the mix for the highly sought-after quarterback. While Oregon remains the frontrunner, Penn State has shown they can compete for elite talent and provide a program and culture where Mencl believes he can develop and thrive.