The fallout from the James Franklin firing is already starting.
After Penn State announced Sunday it fired Franklin following Saturday’s shocking loss to Northwestern, highly regarded running back recruit Kemon Spell told Hayes Fawcett of Rivals and On 3 Sports he decommitted from the Nittany Lions’ 2027 recruiting class with an eye on some of the top programs in the nation:
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Spell is a 5-star prospect and the No. 8 overall player in the class of 2027. He is also the top running back in his class and the top player from the state of Pennsylvania.
He is the type of elite playmaker inside the state that Penn State needs to land to remain among the country’s best programs, but Franklin’s firing has opened the door for a number of potential recruiting moves.
Things could go from bad to worse for the Nittany Lions if Spell remains in the Big Ten.
Ohio State, Michigan and USC are all on the list of schools he told Fawcett stand out to him at this point of the process alongside Georgia, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame and Tennessee.
He isn’t the only one who started to explore options following Franklin’s exit:
Lavar Keys may not be as highly regarded as Spell as a 3-star prospect, per 247Sports’ composite rankings, but his decision is another example of what could end up being a domino effect for the Nittany Lions.
Many prospects commit to programs for the coaching they will receive, and members of Penn State’s 2027 class expected to be joining the fold with Franklin. Now that he is no longer the head coach, there is plenty of uncertainty moving forward for the coaching and the recruiting.
And the Nittany Lions may have to wait until after the ongoing season ends to name their next head coach depending on who they want to target and where those coaching candidates are in 2025.
That will give their rivals plenty of time to start making moves when it comes to the recruiting trail.
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