Nittany Lions get hit hard.
Penn State loses five-star recruit and nation’s top running back after James Franklin firing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Penn State’s future recruiting classes took major blows on Sunday after the school fired head coach James Franklin. Among the decommitment was five-star running back Kemon Spell
The No. 9 overall prospect and the nation's top-ranked running back in the 2027 class, had been committed to the Nittany Lions since last year. His decision comes hours after Franklin was dismissed midway through his 12th season at the helm.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pounder was Penn State’s longest-standing pledge in the 2027 class. Known for his tremendous power and speed, Spell has been described as “a mix between a tank and a jackrabbit” with the ability to shed tackles and burst through tight seams. He went off for 293 yards and four touchdowns in his junior season debut, reaffirming his status as one of the top offensive prospects in the country.
Spell had kept communication open with other programs since his commitment. He listed Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan, USC, Notre Dame and Alabama among those pursuing him.
His departure leaves Penn State with no remaining commitments in its 2027 class after fellow top-100 recruits Layton von Brandt and Khalil Taylor also reopened their recruitments.
Franklin compiled a 104-45 record at Penn State since 2014. He was fired following a 22-21 loss to Northwestern that dropped the Nittany Lions to 3-3. Assistant coach Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach as the program tries to regroup in Big Ten play.
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Category: General Sports
