2027 Recruiting Thread

[Marshall2323]

Then Penn State will be riding a merry-go-round because it isn't getting any better any time soon.

Precisely what I've been saying. Welcome aboard. Same talent, new coach, similar results. PSU's record for 150 games prior to Franklin and Franklin's 149 game record are nearly identical. If the talent acquired remains the same.....the results will be as well.
2026 due to schedule is likely to be a 10 win type year. However, due to the class of 2026 and a large roster turnover again (combined with an authentic Big 10 schedule in 2027) 27-28 are not looking like great years.
If we approach year four and Coach Campbell's best record is 2026, what do you think the temperature will be here?
Imagine a scaled down stadium upgrade say 600 million and an extra 10 million per year dedicated to NIL? We wouldn't be talking bargain basement shopping. We'd be landing game changers. Kraft promised excellence at the highest level and his failure to read the tea leaves of recruiting in this era have prevented PSU from positioning for a NC run.

 

[Marshall2323]

I just want to see good, smart, tough football. Something that was slipping away. Wins and playoffs will be what it
is or isn't.

That's funny. I wonder how long good, smart, football will entertain you if the net result is 7-5 or 8-4 each year.
It's not likely any coach can produce good, smart football in the eyes of the BWICAC.

 

[Marshall2323]

We have better talent than Iowa or Illinois so playing tougher football with the better talent should mean something.

In the modern era of CFB with the transfer portal, HS recruiting importance has diminished. It is important but not the end all be all. Indiana has flipped the model on its head; they have yet to get even garner a top 30-35 HS recruiting class yet they are again predicted to make the 12 team playoff this season. That would be making the playoff each of the last 3 years with one NC, all the while having only average HS recruiting.

Under the current playoff system, how many years would Franklin led PSU have been in the playoffs?
It's incredible how many fans are willing to waive the white flag and accept "average HS recruiting" while waiting for lightening to strike twice (make PSU a NC with inferior recruiting).

 

[Marshall2323]

Playing Ohio state instead of Ohio university means something too.

"he can take hisin and beat yurin and take yurin and beat hisin." LOL
It's gonna get ugly here when the shine wears off.

 

[Marshall2323]

The Penn State Bar-B-que (formerly Lasch Bash?) gets rave reviews from recruits same as previous years. What young man wouldn't like that? Any idea how many commits previously came out of this type of activity?

I'll bet none of the 63 other P4 schools do something like that.

 

[RolexKong]

Precisely what I've been saying. Welcome aboard. Same talent, new coach, similar results. PSU's record for 150 games prior to Franklin and Franklin's 149 game record are nearly identical. If the talent acquired remains the same.....the results will be as well.
2026 due to schedule is likely to be a 10 win type year. However, due to the class of 2026 and a large roster turnover again (combined with an authentic Big 10 schedule in 2027) 27-28 are not looking like great years.
If we approach year four and Coach Campbell's best record is 2026, what do you think the temperature will be here?
Imagine a scaled down stadium upgrade say 600 million and an extra 10 million per year dedicated to NIL? We wouldn't be talking bargain basement shopping. We'd be landing game changers. Kraft promised excellence at the highest level and his failure to read the tea leaves of recruiting in this era have prevented PSU from positioning for a NC run.

The likely financial impact of a scaled back stadium project would be that Penn State borrows less. Are you suggesting that Penn State borrow to fund annual NIL expenditures? I underestimated you. You have Old Main potential.

 

[PSU4U]

So are we setting what Franklin achieved as "the standard?"

It's not just PA. PSU has zero commits from the top 5 in PA, MD, NJ, VA, NY, or CT. We have 1 from Ohio (Tarrawallie). We lost #1 Borque from Mass but got #4 Wood.

PSU is going to struggle if we can't get our share of top recruits in the northeast.

"27" should be the stabilizing class that was needed from the outset "28" should and will be IMO the better class as recruiting in our traditional footprint should and will improve.

Campbell and company are making up relational ship ground with HS coaches and academic advisors (which was almost nonexistent) is a must. While no doubt money or the will to spend it is lacking that too will come around in years to come.

If we can average 9-10 wins a year for the first three years, I will be content as recruiting improves the wins will follow and I believe both will happen.

It just seems to me some people are rushing to put a finger in the hole in the dike that doesn't exist. Every new HC situation is different as the program and place, he's taking over. IMO Making comparisons with other programs with similar situations is a futile endeavor.

I remain positive and am looking forward to the season starting. If you can't handle the intrigue and the team to struggle here and there this season may be a disappointment to some, I'm just glad I'm not those people.

 

[bdgan]

If we can average 9-10 wins a year for the first three years, I will be content as recruiting improves the wins will follow and I believe both will happen.

9-10 wins per year for the next 3 years seems quite optimistic. I predict 9 wins this year because of Iowa State transfers like QB Becht, WR Sowell, RB Hansen, LB Ebel, and S Neal. The problem is those guys are all in their final year of eligibility. PSU had virtually no high school recruiting last year and this year's class is ranked somewhere around 20th. Very few of those kids will be ready to play next year anyway.

IMO PSU is going to struggle in 2027 & 2028 unless they have one of the top portal classes in the country. That's not a shot at Campbell. It's just where we are after the poorly executed firing/replacement of franklin.

 

[LMTLION]

Would be great to land Alexander! We need to improve our LB recruiting at LBU and this would make a strong statement while hopefully attracting other talented, tough LBs.

Seems like it actually is Alexander per HVU and others with an announcement in the next 24 hours. Unless we pick up a supplemental or developmental piece, I think that is a wrap for lb recruiting in the 2027 class with Betton and Alexander. We will desperately need a portal starting lb with Bacon being a senior and Rojas likely going to the nfl. PSU has had lb issues for a few years now and 2025 was a scary depth situation (Dom was never meant to start at this level.) Keys, a very talented Franklin recruit a few years back, was expected to become a great lb but was charged with felony rape in late 2024. The ISU transfers are mostly seniors. We have got to hope that Tatsch recovers from the acl and Smith can develop, but regardless we will need at least one portal lb.

 

[Blair10]

Seems like it actually is Alexander per HVU and others with an announcement in the next 24 hours. Unless we pick up a supplemental or developmental piece, I think that is a wrap for lb recruiting in the 2027 class with Betton and Alexander. We will desperately need a portal starting lb with Bacon being a senior and Rojas likely going to the nfl. PSU has had lb issues for a few years now and 2025 was a scary depth situation (Dom was never meant to start at this level.) Keys, a very talented Franklin recruit a few years back, was expected to become a great lb but was charged with felony rape in late 2024. The ISU transfers are mostly seniors. We have got to hope that Tatsch recovers from the acl and Smith can develop, but regardless we will need at least one portal lb.

I believe Rojas, Keys, and Robinson (who transferred to USC) were part of the same class of linebacker recruits.

 

[Marshall2323]

"27" should be the stabilizing class that was needed from the outset "28" should and will be IMO the better class as recruiting in our traditional footprint should and will improve.

Campbell and company are making up relational ship ground with HS coaches and academic advisors (which was almost nonexistent) is a must. While no doubt money or the will to spend it is lacking that too will come around in years to come.

If we can average 9-10 wins a year for the first three years, I will be content as recruiting improves the wins will follow and I believe both will happen.

It just seems to me some people are rushing to put a finger in the hole in the dike that doesn't exist. Every new HC situation is different as the program and place, he's taking over. IMO Making comparisons with other programs with similar situations is a futile endeavor.

I remain positive and am looking forward to the season starting. If you can't handle the intrigue and the team to struggle here and there this season well, I'm glad I'm not those people.

PSU averaged 9 wins a season under Franklin. 9 wins doesn't sound like excellence at the highest level to me. You would settle for going into Campbell year four averaging 9.5 wins? Nine wins gets a four way tie for 4th place in the conference this past season. Tied for 4th in the conference isn't selling luxury boxes and sky rocketing season tickets.

 

[Marshall2323]

The likely financial impact of a scaled back stadium project would be that Penn State borrows less. Are you suggesting that Penn State borrow to fund annual NIL expenditures? I underestimated you. You have Old Main potential.

Are you suggesting that no one donated funds to the stadium project?

 

[LB99]

"27" should be the stabilizing class that was needed from the outset "28" should and will be IMO the better class as recruiting in our traditional footprint should and will improve.

Campbell and company are making up relational ship ground with HS coaches and academic advisors (which was almost nonexistent) is a must. While no doubt money or the will to spend it is lacking that too will come around in years to come.

If we can average 9-10 wins a year for the first three years, I will be content as recruiting improves the wins will follow and I believe both will happen.

It just seems to me some people are rushing to put a finger in the hole in the dike that doesn't exist. Every new HC situation is different as the program and place, he's taking over. IMO Making comparisons with other programs with similar situations is a futile endeavor.

I remain positive and am looking forward to the season starting. If you can't handle the intrigue and the team to struggle here and there this season well, I'm glad I'm not those people.

I respect your take. I just don’t buy the “still establishing relationships” excuse some are giving Campbell while other kids in our recruiting footprint, especially PA, are committing to other programs with new head coaches at schools far away from PA. Did those coaches prioritize establishing relationships quicker with those kids than Campbell did?

 

[PSU4U]

I respect your take. I just don’t buy the “still establishing relationships” excuse some are giving Campbell while other kids in our recruiting footprint, especially PA, are committing to other programs with new head coaches at schools far away from PA. Did those coaches prioritize establishing relationships quicker with those kids than Campbell did?

Money PS is not prepared/willing to spend. It's not one thing it's several issues. I'm certainly not blaming MC for those issues. In a year or two we will see who's closer to being correct.

 

[PSU4U]

9-10 wins per year for the next 3 years seems quite optimistic. I predict 9 wins this year because of Iowa State transfers like QB Becht, WR Sowell, RB Hansen, LB Ebel, and S Neal. The problem is those guys are all in their final year of eligibility. PSU had virtually no high school recruiting last year and this year's class is ranked somewhere around 20th. Very few of those kids will be ready to play next year anyway.

IMO PSU is going to struggle in 2027 & 2028 unless they have one of the top portal classes in the country. That's not a shot at Campbell. It's just where we are after the poorly executed firing/replacement of franklin.

9 wins is certainly doable and anywhere between 8-10 is respectable given the current situation. I expect 9 hoping for 10 and a playoff bid.

Considering they are saving some portal money for the next round I don't expect a big dropoff in 27 or 28. My only concern for 26 is can the players jell as a unit. That may take a couple games. I don't expect them to come out like a well-oiled machine, but I do expect them to make any necessary adjustments over the first 3 games.

 

[MacNit]

In the eyes of a fan boy anonymously passing judgement in his "home office." You should be such a fool.... independently wealthy and in possession of 6 Super Bowl rings as a HC and widely regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the history of the NFL with an additional 2 rings as a Giant DC.
Yes, fortunately none of us are fools like Billy B.

Easy dude/ fanboy. He is embarrassing himself daily. No one said he was not a great coach.

 

[MacNit]

Coach Wooden had a secret weapon ....a guy by the name of Gilbert. You can look it up.

Wooden was a crook. Bobby Knight knew all about it!

 

[MacNit]

Funny how so many "legends" had some sort of advantage or "leverage" that we didn't know about at the time.
I think there was something similar with Bud Wilkenson and his amazing tenure at Oklahoma.
I still have an abiding respect for the educator and gentleman that Coach Wooden was. I'm sure there were others with "advantages" that didn't attain his stature and success.

He was a crook.

 

[MacNit]

Come on man. It isn't about 1 mid three star. It's about the fact that the overwhelming majority of current commits are 3 stars.
Go to the industry ratings (24/7 and Rivals) look at the average rating per commit. 24/7 has PSU at 88.38 average. That puts them at 18th. Rivals has PSU average at 88.05 with 21 schools above that average.
I understand that these are not the final numbers....players will move up and down.....for all schools. Perhaps PSU will suddenly sign 6 more 4 stars.
No one is denying that some 3 stars are "diamonds in the rough" and future stars. But at least admit that recruiting isn't currently any better than it has been in the recent past. It's just foolish to predict better results without an influx of game changing talent.

Correct. But it is year 1.

 

[MacNit]

That's funny. I wonder how long good, smart, football will entertain you if the net result is 7-5 or 8-4 each year.
It's not likely any coach can produce good, smart football in the eyes of the BWICAC.

I am sure you will be entertained beyond your wildest dreams watching the fighting Franklins of VA Tech. Maybe you can enroll in a correspondence course there and really catch Hokie fever?!

 

[MacNit]

"27" should be the stabilizing class that was needed from the outset "28" should and will be IMO the better class as recruiting in our traditional footprint should and will improve.

Campbell and company are making up relational ship ground with HS coaches and academic advisors (which was almost nonexistent) is a must. While no doubt money or the will to spend it is lacking that too will come around in years to come.

If we can average 9-10 wins a year for the first three years, I will be content as recruiting improves the wins will follow and I believe both will happen.

It just seems to me some people are rushing to put a finger in the hole in the dike that doesn't exist. Every new HC situation is different as the program and place, he's taking over. IMO Making comparisons with other programs with similar situations is a futile endeavor.

I remain positive and am looking forward to the season starting. If you can't handle the intrigue and the team to struggle here and there this season may be a disappointment to some, I'm just glad I'm not those people.

Exactly! 81 South !

 

[RolexKong]

Are you suggesting that no one donated funds to the stadium project?

Of course people donated to the stadium project. You're a smart fellows; figure it out.

 

[Marshall2323]

I am sure you will be entertained beyond your wildest dreams watching the fighting Franklins of VA Tech. Maybe you can enroll in a correspondence course there and really catch Hokie fever?!

No chance I'm jumping ship this year. I'm 100% for the Cylions. PSU has 9 opponents "without a pulse" on it's schedule and a brilliant game day coach strolling the sidelines. I'm riding this year to Indy for the conference championship and the first "big win" vs Ohio State, Indiana or Oregon. Planning on at least one, perhaps two playoff games.
Now after this season, if the talent acquisition doesn't improve, I may consider my options.

 

[Marshall2323]

Of course people donated to the stadium project. You're a smart fellows; figure it out.

Yeah, none of that money would have brought PSU more on field talent. But we will have luxury boxes.

 

[RolexKong]

Yeah, none of that money would have brought PSU more on field talent. But we will have luxury boxes.

 

[ZouaveLion]

Getting back.to 2027 recruiting, 4 star LB Case Alexander just committed to PSU....now some of you can proceed to complain that he s from Oklahoma and not the.Mid Atlantic region. Great pickup for the new staff regardless.

 

[Blair10]

Getting back.to 2027 recruiting, 4 star LB Case Alexander just committed to PSU....now some of you can proceed to complain that he s from Oklahoma and not the.Mid Atlantic region. Great pickup for the new staff regardless.

I don’t get the outdated mindset focused on which region Penn State gets a recruit. Talent is talent. I don’t care if the recruit is from PA or North Dakota. Historically, many Penn State greats were recruited from outside PA and the Mid Atlantic.

NIL has made regional focused recruiting a thing of the past. Players go where the $$$ are.