Column | Penn State’s 2027 recruiting class couldn’t have asked for better start

There’s still a long time before Penn State’s 2027 recruiting class puts pen to paper on National Signing Day.

Despite this, the Nittany Lions have landed three commitments on the offensive side of the ball, and the program couldn’t have asked for a better trio to start the class with.

Penn State started off its class with 4-star running back Kemon Spell out of in-state McKeesport High School. He’s the No. 26 player nationally, No. 2 running back and No. 2 player in Pennsylvania. 

When former running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider departed to Notre Dame for the same role, there was speculation that Spell would reconsider his recruitment after picking up an offer from the Fighting Irish and potentially go visit. He put those rumors to bed, going on record saying he was shutting down his recruitment after his most recent visit to campus.

The second member to pledge to the 2027 class was 4-star Layton Von Brandt, the No. 42 player nationally, No. 6 offensive tackle and No. 1 player in Delaware. He plays for Appoquinimink High School and is teammates with 4-star wide receiver commit Jahsiear Rogers in the 2026 recruiting class.

Though the class is still in its beginning phase, Von Brandt has already portrayed himself as a leader, doing tons of peer recruiting on social media in an attempt to add to the 2027 class, which every class needs early in the process. 

Rounding out the group is the most recent commitment in 4-star athlete Khalil Taylor out of in-state Seton LaSalle Catholic High School. He’s listed as the No. 47 player nationally, No. 8 athlete, and is right behind Spell as the No. 3 player in Pennsylvania.

Though he’s listed as an athlete in the 247Sports composite rankings, Taylor projects to play wide receiver at the next level, where he’s listed as the No. 4 wideout in the country according to On3. 

Each commitment speaks volumes for the situation regarding their positions. 

For Spell, it shows the trust in new running backs coach Stan Drayton despite him not being the one who recruited him. With Von Brandt, it demonstrates the turnaround that offensive line coach Phil Trautwein has done with that room, having nightmares from 2021 turn into arguably the most dominant and deepest position on the team. In regards to Taylor, it's a positive for wide receivers coach Marques Hagans, as a player who can potentially become a 5-star prospect trusts him as a position coach despite the two years of struggles.

The reputation of Penn State’s offense has changed under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, and it's evident by the trio of 2027 commits, as well as the program earning interest from other high-profile names in the recruiting world.

There’s a high chance Kotelnicki lands a head coaching gig following the end of the 2025 campaign, but he’s made the Nittany Lions a more attractive place to play for offensive guys with his creative and successful scheme.

With a 2027 class that has a playmaker out of the backfield and on the outside, plus a bully on the offensive line, it makes an attractive group for a quarterback to play with. In regard to that position, Penn State has put itself in a strong position for 4-star Peter Bourque in the 2027 class. He’s the No. 51 player nationally, No. 6 quarterback and No. 1 player in Massachusetts out of Tabor Academy.

It’ll be a big land for the Nittany Lions if they can add Bourque to a 2027 class that already features three top-50 players nationally in the composite rankings. With the group on board and the interest shown from Bourque, it’s a legitimate possibility it happens.

It’s a long road before those three don the blue and white, but the 2027 class is off to a strong start as Penn State looks to build on an already loaded room.

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