Matt Campbell, Penn State Land Promising 2027 Recruiting Class Ranking

The Penn State Nittany Lions made a major change ahead of the 2026 season by hiring Matt Campbell as their next head coach. Campbell came over from the Iowa State Cyclones, where he had a ton of success, recording a 72-55 record and three Big 12 Coach of the Year Awards over his decade-long tenure.

Campbell started out strong at Penn State, leading them to a 3-0 start, but they have lost their last four contests.

Although the Nittany Lions won't be contenders in 2026, they are putting together a strong 2027 recruiting class. ESPN has ranked Penn State with the 30th-best recruiting class in the country.

Cooper Terwilliger headlines the offensive additions for the Nittany Lions. The six-foot-five tight end has been a quality weapon in high school. In the 2023 season, he had 19 receptions for 274 yards and four touchdowns.

Terwilliger stepped up in 2024, finishing with 41 receptions for 549 yards and four touchdowns before catching 38 receptions for 549 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. The four-star tight end should develop into a reliable weapon for Penn State's offense.

Campbell and the Nittany Lions also added to their defense, led by the commitment of four-star cornerback Kei'Shjuan Telfair. 

Penn State may not be a contender to win the National Championship in year one under Campbell, but a talented recruiting class will help them continue building out the program.

The Nittany Lions will look to have a strong end to the 2026 season to build momentum heading into 2027. To win some games, they will need quarterback Rocco Becht to play at a high level.

This season, Becht is completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,664 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions while rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown.

They also need to establish the run game, which has struggled in the 2026 season. As a team, the Nittany Lions have rushed for 915 yards and 11 touchdowns on 239 carries (3.8 yards per carry).

The offense has plenty to improve on, but their defense has been a quality unit, allowing 18.9 points per game. That gives the team a chance every game if the offense can get going.

If Campbell and Penn State can have a strong end to the season, it could help them add more talent for their 2027 class and reestablish themselves as a top football program next season.