The Penn State Nittany Lions and head coach Matt Campbell are back in the running for a 2027 recruit that originally decommitted from the program.
With the transfer portal beginning to die down, the Penn State Nittany Lions and head coach Matt Campbell are now beginning to make noise in the 2027 recruitment trail.
After former head coach James Franklin was let go during the 2025 regular season, the program lost all four commits in the upcoming recruiting cycle. This includes five-star running back and in-state prospect Kemon Spell and four-star offensive tackle Layton Von Brandt.
In addition to the likes of Spell and Von Brandt, the Nittany Lions also lost four-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor, who originally committed to the program back in March of 2025.
Taylor is the No. 4 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania, as well as the No. 14 wide receiver in the 2027 recruiting class, according to 247Sports’ Composite.
In his 11 games at Pine-Richland High School in 2025, the highly-touted pass catcher recorded 33 catches for 571 yards and an incredible 16 touchdowns with the Rams. On top of his outstanding offensive season, Taylor also racked up 22 tackles, three interceptions, and three tackles for losses on the defensive side of the ball.
However, while Taylor was enjoying a successful junior season, he would ultimately decommit from Penn State following the news of Franklin’s firing. This led to him receiving multiple Power Four offers from the Texas A&M Aggies, Oregon Ducks, and the Virginia Cavaliers.
Luckily for the Nittany Lions’ fanbase, Campbell is looking to get Taylor back to State College for the 2027 college football season.
Last month, Campbell and his new coaching staff reoffered Taylor, making him a key player for Penn State’s next recruiting class. Taylor was one of the three recruits who decommitted and received another offer from the school, along with Spell and Von Brandt.
If the struggling program can land the dynamic playmaker, he would be an excellent recruit for Campbell’s first high school recruiting class with the Nittany Lions. One of the keys that Campbell needs to achieve within his first couple of seasons is making sure that he can recruit in-state prospects.
And if Taylor ultimately decides to recommit to Penn State, he would be a foundational recruit from the state of Pennsylvania. Last week, 247Sports' Taylor Calvaruso confirmed that Taylor is scheduled to return to campus.
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