Nazareth’s Peyton Falzone Commits to Penn State, Adds Local Star Power to Nittany Lions’ 2026 Class
By: Justin Bradley | Sportzwire | April 13, 2025 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus Photography
Nazareth’s Peyton Falzone Commits to Penn State, Adds Local Star Power to Nittany Lions’ 2026 Class! The 4-star QB becomes latest Lehigh Valley standout to join storied Big Ten program
Nazareth Area High School quarterback Peyton Falzone, one of the premier signal-callers in Pennsylvania’s Class of 2026, has officially announced his verbal commitment to Penn State University, delivering a major recruiting victory for the Nittany Lions and sparking pride throughout the Lehigh Valley.
Falzone, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound junior known for his arm strength and mobility, shared his commitment on social media Saturday, signaling his decision to stay in-state and close to home. The news adds another chapter to Penn State’s strong tradition of recruiting top-tier talent from District 11, a list that includes current NFL stars Saquon Barkley (Whitehall) and Jahan Dotson, who also starred at Nazareth.
His recruiting journey has been eventful. After initially committing to Virginia Tech in June 2024, Falzone reopened his recruitment in the fall, drawing renewed attention from major programs such as Iowa, Utah, Syracuse, and Rutgers. In the end, it was the familiarity, vision, and relationships in Happy Valley that led him to Penn State.
In 2024, Falzone led a Nazareth team that had graduated 31 seniors the previous year, guiding the Blue Eagles to a 7-4 record and another District 11 playoff appearance. He completed 145 of 267 passes for 2,136 yards, with 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. On the ground, he added 743 rushing yards on 70 carries—averaging a conference-best 10.6 yards per carry—and scored eight times.
His efforts earned him widespread recognition, including EPC Offensive MVP, and a first-team all-state selection from the Pennsylvania Football Writers.
Falzone enters his senior season ranked as the No. 177 overall prospect in the nation, the No. 11 quarterback, and the No. 4 player in Pennsylvania, according to 247Sports. He joins fellow four-star QB Troy Huhn of Mission Hills, California, in a 2026 Penn State class already shaping up as one of the nation’s elite. His skill set is expected to align well with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s dynamic system, which emphasizes quarterbacks who can extend plays and attack defenses in multiple ways.
Falzone also continues a strong family tradition in Nazareth football. His father, Tom Falzone, is the head coach of the Blue Eagles, making Peyton’s journey all the more meaningful for the local community.
With one more year of high school football ahead, Falzone now steps into his final season not only as a leader for Nazareth but as a future face of Penn State football.
