Five-Star QB Shocks College Football World by Turning Down $6.7 Million, Decommits from Colorado, and Flips Commitment to Penn State over Notre Dame and Florida State
In a move reverberating throughout the college football landscape, five-star quarterback phenom Jalen Ricks stunned fans, coaches, and boosters alike by rejecting a reported $6.7 million NIL package from a Colorado collective, decommitting from Coach Deion Sanders’ high-profile program, and instead pledging his future to Penn State.
The announcement came via a surprise livestream Thursday evening, where the 6’4″, 215-pound signal caller from Long Beach Poly High School calmly zipped up a navy blue hoodie emblazoned with the Nittany Lion logo. It marked the end of a recruiting saga that had captivated the nation for months and left major powerhouses scrambling.
“Money isn’t everything,” Ricks said, eyes locked on the camera. “I want to be developed, not just promoted. I want to earn my legacy, not have it bought.”
Ricks, widely considered the most complete quarterback prospect in the 2025 class, had initially committed to Colorado in January. With blazing footwork, a cannon arm, and a 4.0 GPA, he was a dream recruit for “Coach Prime,” whose NIL-powered rebuild in Boulder has drawn national attention. Ricks had even starred in several promotional videos and spring practices, appearing locked in.
But behind the scenes, according to sources close to the family, Ricks had grown disillusioned with the spotlight-first culture. Despite the lure of nearly seven million dollars in endorsements, the family reportedly pushed for a program where football IQ and long-term development were the priorities.
Penn State head coach James Franklin played the long game, refusing to back off even as Ricks leaned heavily toward Colorado and briefly flirted with both Notre Dame and Florida State. “Coach Franklin’s vision resonated with me,” Ricks said. “He’s building something real, and I want to be the one who takes it to the next level.”
Notre Dame and Florida State both made late pushes, with FSU offering a restructured NIL deal and the Irish invoking the legacy of their storied quarterback tradition. But neither could match Penn State’s balance of academic support, stability, and pro-style offensive system tailor-made for Ricks’s dual-threat skill set.
Recruiting analysts were blindsided. “You don’t see a kid turn down that kind of money,” said ESPN’s Tom Luginbill. “This wasn’t just a recruiting win. It was a cultural statement.”
Ricks’s flip instantly vaults Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class into the top three nationally. More importantly, it sends a message that not every elite player will be swayed by the glitz of NIL riches alone.
The ripple effects could be profound. Within hours, two other four-star offensive weapons—WR Darnell Price and TE Tyson Brooks—announced they were “reconsidering” their options. Both were Colorado leans. Now? All eyes are on Happy Valley.
In an era driven by money and media, Jalen Ricks may have just reminded college football what still matters: grit, growth, and greatness earned the hard way.
