2027 PSU Football Class

GregInPitt said:
With the way the PSU roster was decimated after Franklin was fired, especially with regards to the 2025 class, it seems that every position except maybe CB and possibly QB are positions of high need in the 2027 class. Campbell did a good job of filling the holes in the roster going into the 2026 season using the portal to bring the talent from the ISU roster and then from other programs especially at DT, and he's playing catchup with the 2027 class which will hurt in bringing in the high 4 and 5 star players he'll be able to get thereafter, but across all positions the roster needs young talent to develop. Even if he gets a big 2027 class of high 3 and low 4 star players across all positions he'll need to bring in some starters from the portal for the 2027 season as the 2026 class seems to be void of instant starters and it would seem that it will be hard to bring in the high end talent within the 2027 that could result in some true freshmen starters.
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Agreed although we see almost every year some 3 star or low 4 star guy that shows up and impresses immediately. The rating system shouldn't be ignored but it is far from perfect. There are going to be under the radar guys that have "it" just like there will be 5 star busts.
 
It would be helpful to see the blend of portal vs hs recruits by position each year for every top 20 team. It could be that for the combined 22 starters on offense and defense, 11 could be portalled in and and 11 will be hs recruits on average, with more of the portal guys favored in the skill positions. Some schools may be portal focused (UO) and others favor in-house development.
 
I still believe that for the most part the top 5-10 teams in recruiting from H.S. will be top 15 teams by performance for the most part. In the current environment those 5-10 teams are the teams with the $$money to not only bring in the top H.S. players but have the $$ to keep the ones that actually perform like top talent when they show up on campus and put the pads on and compete. They'll get talent, especially on both the OL and DL that by and large requires more development/maturity than the skill players, and develop them to put better lines on the field than the teams that don't recruit high school players as well. A mega spending team like Oregon can go out and get 2 or 3 top talent olinemen when they need them like they did for the 2025 season, but Ohio State likely won't get in that position. Oregon with the Nike money seems like somewhat of an outlier to me from the model of success for most of the top teams.

As far as team performance goes, it wouldn't bother me at all if PSU loses 10 players to the portal every year, as long as Campbell and the collective uses NIL to keep the players he wants to keep. All the top teams will do that as it allows them to take big H.S. classes every year and basically cut the players that can't really contribute to wins. Sort of the modern NIL legal verson of the Bama Saban model where he cut down each Spring to make the 85 and take his large H.S. class full of high 4 and 5 star players. But as a PSU alum and father of sons I hope that Campell can win without actually cutting players. Some players will just leave because PSU is not what they thought it was, some will leave because they really don't have the talent and dedication combination to win a starting spot and want to go somewhere they can play.
 
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The real differentiators IMO will be the coordinators. No more plays like that 2-pt conversion attempt against Michigan, the 4th down run right at Chase Young, and other WTF calls. Coordinators that take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses on both sides based on the situation. I'm open to a little game theory, so suspecting that the opponent expects something, there should be a few calculated tricks, like the Reynolds run off the fake punt against Minny. Basically, smart football, but not Rube Goldberg smart, based on the situation.
 
First WR for the 2027 class! Looks like some services and some teams projected him as a TE but PSU reportedly recruited him as a WR.

Four-Star WR Landon Blum has Committed to Penn State. #1 player in Iowa for the 2026 class.

The 6’4 205 WR from Woodbine, IA chose the Nittany Lions over Kansas, Ole Miss, and Iowa


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Matt Campbell's relationship with 4-star WR prevails with latest commitment update

In September 2025, Penn State football head coach Matt Campbell developed a strong relationship with a four-star wide receiver from Woodbine, Iowa. Landon Blum
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247sports.com

Landon Blum, Woodbine , Wide Receiver

Plays 8-man football at Woodbine (Iowa) High.
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I was just sampling the 247 site's star ratings for the top ten-fifteen teams over the last ten years. My anectodal interpretation is that a count of 10-15 four-stars is sufficient to keep a team in the game. Of course, success in the portal, whether it's the number of transters or a strategic selection to fill immediate needs, will probably change what is considered success in HS recruiting.

Maybe the new model is at least ten 4*s from HS and five 4*s from the portal, while ensuring a capable QB is always on the roster, no matter how attained.
 
Would be great if Campell can get either Bourque or Menci as the QB for this class. It always helps in attracting talent across all positions when the class has a top QB committed to the class and that player gets on campus during the big recruiting weekends.....

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Penn State makes strides with 4-star safety and emerges as top school

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Terry Smith is the recruiting difference-maker Matt Campbell was lucky to retain

Penn State football has done well in the past week in recruitment from getting players on campus to earning commitments. With head coach Matt Campbell playing c
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Can Penn State Revive its Garden State Pipeline?

Glen Mason has coached all over the country, serving as head coach at both Kansas and Minnesota before moving into broadcasting.
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Penn State Is 'No. 1' For Top 2027 PA Wide Receiver Re-Target

Recruiting is a journey, and no one knows that better than Pine Richland (Gibsonia, Pennsylvania) wide receiver Khalil Taylor.
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Can Matt Campbell Keep Penn State’s In-State Wall Up in a Loaded Pennsylvania Class?

When Matt Campbell first met with the media on Dec. 8, his message about in-state recruiting was noticeably more measured than the one Penn State fans had grown used to hearing from his predecessor, James Franklin.
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