Penn State gets DL target Alex Haskell back on campus

Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s Prep Class of 2026 defensive lineman Alex Haskell capped his summer by checking out Penn State last weekend. The three-star prospect was on campus for the second day of the Nittany Lions’ Lasch Bash and he had another impressive trip to Happy Valley. 

“It was a really fun time, good food,” recalled Haskell. “It was good to see how close they are up there. Everyone was supporting each other. It was just a real brotherly energy.”

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound prospect has emerged as an early top target on the defensive line for defensive line coach Deion Barnes, also a Philly native. Prior to that trip, he was last in town for a Junior Day in early February. 

“Coach Barnes wanted to let me know that I’m a priority for them,” said Haskell. “I’m feeling really good about them. They’re definitely a heavy thought of mine right now.”

Haskell has picked up double-digit offers since picking up his first scholarship from West Virginia last summer. Boston College, Duke, Miami, Minnesota, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin are among the notables that have come along since. He went to Ohio State in the spring with teammate Maxwell Roy in the spring and this summer he reunited with former Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz at Duke. 

“I got down to Duke,” said Haskell. “It was just a really busy family summer so I couldn’t really get anywhere. But I’m looking forward to the fall and spring. I want to make it out to Minnesota and Wisconsin, but we will see when the time comes. Coach Debo (Gophers’ defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere III) and (Wisconsin) coach (E.J.) Whitlow have been really interested in me, so I feel like it’s fair to give them a shot.”

Trimmings: What could be next for Penn State in 2025?

St. Joseph’s Prep will start to prepare its defense of another state title in the next week. As a sophomore in 2023, Haskell was a prominent member of another swarming Hawks defense last year. He finished the season with 16 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. In his season debut against IMG Academy last August, he had a strip sack that set up a touchdown.

On a unit that has several notable names, Haskell is hoping to stand out in a big way. 

“It’s going good,” he said of his season prep. “I’m bigger, faster and stronger than last year. So I’m ready to have a big season to put the whole country on notice.”

The post Penn State gets DL target Alex Haskell back on campus appeared first on On3.