Matt Sieg Makes Seismic Decision On National Signing Day
If you needed any more proof that the college football coaching carousel is actually a Tilt-A-Whirl designed to make fans nauseous, look no further than what happened on National Signing Day in Pennsylvania.
In a move that sent shockwaves through the Keystone State, four-star Safety Matt Sieg officially flipped his commitment from Penn State to West Virginia. For the Nittany Lions, who are currently stuck in that awkward limbo of trying to sign a class without a head coach, this one stings.
A Heavy Loss For the Nittany Lions
Let’s be real: seeing a talent like Sieg walk out the door is a nightmare scenario for Penn State. We aren’t talking about just any recruit here. Sieg is the definition of a homegrown hero. A native of McDonald, Pa., he’s been the crown jewel of the Nittany Lions’ 2026 class for over a year. He grew up a fan, he committed early, and he was ready to lead the defense in Happy Valley.
But loyalty in college football is a two-way street, and when James Franklin packed his bags for Virginia Tech, the foundation crumbled. You can’t blame him. Imagine being a high schooler watching the program you love turn into a giant question mark right before you have to sign your name on the dotted line.
Penn State tried to stop the bleeding. They sent Director of Player Development Jordan Hill to the Sieg household last week. Matt’s father, Jeff, admitted it was a nice gesture that showed they were “still here,” but without a head coach in place, a nice gesture wasn’t enough to seal the deal.
West Virginia Capitalizes On the Chaos
While Penn State was scrambling and Franklin was trying to lure his former commit to Virginia Tech, West Virginia saw an opening and kicked the door down.
The Mountaineers didn’t just win a recruiting battle; they pulled off a heist. Getting Sieg to cross state lines is a massive victory for the WVU staff. It looked for a minute like Franklin might convince Sieg to join him in Blacksburg, but Rich Rodriguez and the West Virginia crew surged late. They offered stability and a clear vision, two things Penn State couldn’t put on the table this week.
What Sieg Brings To the Mountaineers
So, what exactly is West Virginia getting in Matt Sieg? In short: a football-playing machine.
If you look at the WPIAL record books, Sieg’s name is written in permanent marker everywhere. He was a four-year starter at quarterback for Fort Cherry High School, where he basically did everything but drive the team bus. He finished his career with mind-boggling numbers: 12,592 total offensive yards and 139 total touchdowns.
He’s listed as a safety for the next level, and that’s where his instincts shine. He’s got the athleticism to cover ground and the physical toughness to lower his shoulder and lay the boom. He’s a “Swiss Army Knife” type of athlete who just knows how to win.
For West Virginia, landing Sieg is the cherry on top of a Signing Day that turned out better than anyone expected. For Penn State? It’s back to the drawing board, hoping they can find a coach before they lose anyone else.
