As the recruiting season heated up, wrestling fans were eager to track the journey of high school phenoms choosing their college paths. And among the rising stars, the most closely watched is 18-year-old Bo Bassett, the top-ranked prospect for the class of 2026. Fresh off visits with powerhouses like Ohio State and Penn State, Bassett has kept fans guessing about his final college destination. Now down to 13 schools, the junior standout is trimming his list week by week. And the only aim of the young wrestler is to settle on a program where he can continue to sharpen his wrestling skills. 

But while Bassett is still in the decision-making phase, another recruiting giant has made headlines with his own announcement. This 17-year-old phenom has marked his name as the top recruit of the class of 2025 and now is officially committed to Penn State. The star is none other than the Ohio native, Marcus Blaze!

Blaze was already reigning supreme in Flo’s ranking over Bo Bassett. Blaze’s decision, revealed during a signing ceremony at his high school, has been the talk of wrestling circles. With an astounding list of records and accolades, Blaze has already turned up as one dominating force. That list includes a U17 world title and a U20 world bronze medal, making him nothing short of a generational talent. And Penn State’s addition of Blaze has fans and analysts buzzing about the future of their wrestling lineup.

As a three-time Ohio state champion, Blaze’s resume already reads like a seasoned collegiate athlete’s. Back in high school, the wrestler defeated one of the most celebrated NCAA Division I wrestlers, Matt Ramos. The Michigan-born athlete has also defeated notable college-level wrestlers, including Olympic Trials competitors like Daton Fix. Reflecting on the same, his high school coach praised him, stating, “He’s special. He’s generational…a great human being. He’s a leader.” Despite being just 17, Blaze’s accomplishments in both folkstyle and freestyle wrestling have positioned him as a likely future star for Penn State.

However, the significance of Blaze’s commitment goes beyond adding another elite recruit to the Nittany Lions’ roster. Young Marcus is expected to be a pivotal part of their lineup in the coming years, potentially filling in for current NCAA runner-up Beau Bartlett at 141 pounds. Marcus’ immediate impact may vary depending on whether he redshirts or competes at 133 pounds initially. But his long-term growth points to a highly competitive 141-pound spot.

Owing to these reasons, the Nittany Lions coaching staff is ecstatic to add Blaze to their lineup, particularly since he has the potential to step into a key role. His coach, Scott Burnett, highlighted his potential and added, “He’s special. He’s generational. He’s got some really big goals.” Scott further hinted at Marcus’ future plans and continued, “He wants to be an Olympic champion; he wants to build off his 17U World Championship. He loves our team. And he loves our program.”.

Adding to the allure is Blaze’s impressive freestyle success. This year alone, he placed third in the Olympic Trials at 57 kg and was runner-up at the World Team Trials at 61 kg. This success was enough to prove the fact that he can go toe-to-toe with the world’s best. Wrestling insiders describe Blaze as an athlete who brings “incredible expectations to the next level.” Jon Kozak of FloWrestling summed up the excitement, calling him “one of the most accomplished high school wrestlers of all time.” 

While Penn State fans have been eagerly watching Bassett’s recruitment for 2026, they are suddenly going gaga over the recruitment of Blaze. As soon as the announcement of Marcus joining the Nittany Lions became an official statement, fans could not keep calm.

Fans blaze with excitement as Marcus Blaze joins the roster with Penn State as the top recruit

Netizens flocked to the comment section of a Reddit post that announced Marcus Blaze’s commitment to Penn State. A wrestling enthusiast page on Reddit from the handle @r/wrestling posted, “Penn State scores big.” And this has made fans fill the comment box with their thoughts of excitement and their two cents.

One fan’s comment reflected a sense of irony. Penn State’s wrestling program is already one of the most successful in the country, consistently attracting top recruits. By securing Marcus Blaze, the No. 1 recruit of 2025, Penn State has once again proven its dominance in recruiting elite talent. The user with a tone of humor commented, “Good on Penn State, it’s nice for them to catch a break and get a good recruit for a change!”. The comment playfully implies that Penn State, already a powerhouse, hardly needs “a break” to attract a highly coveted athlete like Blaze, who would make the team shine even brighter in the coming days.

Using an age-old proverb, one fan tried to hint at the dominance that Penn State has continued to hold in the realm of wrestling. They added, “The rich keep getting richer. Cannot wait until penn state has a competitor” to highlight Penn State’s continued streak of successes. By securing Blaze, a “generational” talent with world championship titles and a stellar high school record, the Nittany Lions strengthen their roster even further. And now with their top recruit, fans are eyeing more victories in the future. 

Another wrestling enthusiast hoped Marcus would take a different decision. However, despite his desire not getting fulfilled, the fan did not seem disappointed. The fan thought that Blaze would choose Purdue over Penn State because his brother has been a part of Purdue for quite some time. The commenter wrote, “Seemed inevitable. I was hoping he would join his brother at Purdue. I know that was a huge long shot. Still look forward to seeing what he does at PSU.” Knowing Blaze’s immense talent and Penn State’s dominance in wrestling, the fan concedes that joining the Nittany Lions was “inevitable.” Though Blaze’s family ties to Purdue made it a hopeful, albeit “long shot” option, the fan remains supportive, looking forward to Blaze’s impact at Penn State. 

Another netizen who is undoubtedly a Marcus and a Penn State fan wrote, “The best recruit out there”. The user seems to have full faith in the young talent and believes that he would help Penn State reach even greater heights. Another fan too seems excited to witness how Blaze’s entry into the team would affect their lineup. “Will be interesting how the lineup plays out next year,” read another comment. With Blaze committed and projected for the 141-pound weight class, fans are curious how he’ll fit into a lineup that already has strong contenders at 133 pounds, including Braeden Davis and All-American Aaron Nagao.