#image_title

Central Defensive End Elijah Reeder Commits to Penn State

Scott Stump|January 23, 2026|Last Updated January 24, 2026

Central defensive end Elijah Reeder, the top uncommitted senior from the Shore Conference Class of 2026, is headed to Penn State.

The Golden Eagles star announced on X that he has verbally committed to the Nittany Lions after having previously decommitted from Iowa State. He will make it official with Penn State on National Signing Day on Feb. 5.

 

It’s no surprise that Reeder ended up committing to Penn State, as former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is now the head coach of the Nittany Lions. Reeder followed the first Power 4 coach to offer him to Happy Valley.

Reeder had previous offers from FCS programs New Haven, Bryant University and Monmouth University before securing a late offer from Iowa State a day before the early signing period in early December.

The three-star recruit labeled “a hidden gem” by Iowa State initially committed to the Cyclones before decommitting after Campbell left to take the Penn State job. Reeder then got offers from Missouri and Penn State before choosing to go with the Nittany Lions.

The 6-foot-6 defensive end, who is in the midst of basketball season for Central, had 49 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss and 8 sacks this season for the 8-win Golden Eagles, who finished No. 11 in the Shore Sports Insider Top 12 rankings.

He was an All-Class B South pick by the coaches and a second-team All-Shore selection by SSI following his senior season. Reeder also ran for six touchdowns as a short-yardage back and caught 10 passes for 93 yards as a tight end.

Reeder joins Donovan Catholic offensive lineman Kai Pritchard (Illinois) and Red Bank Catholic WR/DB Dan Zabora (Air Force) among FBS recruits from the Shore Conference Class of 2026.

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider. He first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999 and has covered basketball, baseball and seemingly every other Shore Conference sport at some point. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com

Related Articles