Unless you have been living under a rock for the last 48 hours, you are probably aware that Penn State fired James Franklin on Sunday. There are pros and cons to the decision, but until a new coach is hired,
there is going to be very little positive news on the recruiting front. Wide receiver Khalil Taylor had already decommitted from Penn State’s 2027 class on Friday. The list of players decommitting has steadily grown since Franklin was fired on Sunday:
- 2026 4-star wide receiver Davion Brown
- 2026 3-star wide receiver Lavar Keys
- 2027 5-star running back Kemon Spell
- 2027 4-star offensive tackle Layton Von Brandt
- 2027 4-star linebacker Gabriel Jenkins
Several others have not decommitted but have reopened their recruitment, including:
- 2026 3-star offensive tackle Marlen Bright
- 2026 4-star safety Matt Sieg
- 2026 3-star defensive lineman Tavian Branch
- 2026 3-star cornerback Julian Peterson
- 2026 4-star cornerback David Davis
- 2026 3-star wide receiver Jahsiear Rogers
- 2026 3-star defensive lineman Isaac Chukwurah
This was not unexpected with Penn State football’s future a complete unknown at this time. The list is also likely not final, and there will likely be more decommits soon. Depending on who the next coach, some of these players listed may come back to Penn State. But for now, the recruiting momentum is about as low as it can get.
