Penn State’s 2027 recruiting class is shaping up to be one to watch - and it’s not just because of five-star running back Kemon Spell. The Nittany Lions are making a serious push to keep another elite in-state prospect close to home: four-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor.
Taylor, a dynamic playmaker out of Pittsburgh, is ranked No. 65 overall in the 2027 class and the 14th-best wide receiver in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite. He’s also the fourth-ranked player in Pennsylvania - a state that continues to be a focal point for Penn State’s recruiting strategy. In the non-composite rankings, Taylor checks in at No. 103 overall and No. 15 among wideouts, but still holds strong as the fourth-best player in-state.
And there’s good reason the Nittany Lions are going all-in.
Taylor’s production has been nothing short of electric. In 2024, as a sophomore, he hauled in 51 catches for 932 yards and found the end zone 22 times through the air.
He added two kick return touchdowns and even made his presence felt on defense with a pick-six. Fast forward to his junior campaign in 2025, and Taylor continued to shine - racking up 24 total touchdowns, three interceptions on defense, and another pick-six.
He’s a true three-phase threat, and that kind of versatility is rare at the high school level.
Right now, Penn State and Notre Dame are locked in a recruiting battle for Taylor’s services. But if the early buzz from recruiting insiders is any indication, the Nittany Lions may have the edge. One prediction from 247Sports currently favors Penn State, and that’s no small thing given the tug-of-war that’s unfolding.
Taylor’s recruitment has been anything but quiet. He originally committed to Penn State back in March of 2025 after four unofficial visits and a Junior Day appearance.
At the time, the Nittany Lions were the only school he’d visited, despite holding offers from national powers like Oregon, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and Indiana. His commitment looked solid - until it wasn’t.
On June 27, Taylor backed off his pledge, joining a wave of de-commitments that hit the program. His decision came before Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin was fired - a move that later sent shockwaves through the college football landscape.
Taylor officially de-committed on October 10, shortly after Penn State suffered back-to-back losses to Oregon and UCLA. Notably, this came just weeks after Franklin made a helicopter trip to Pittsburgh to scout Taylor in person - a clear sign of how highly the staff valued him.
But here’s where things get interesting: Penn State didn’t give up.
Nearly two months after Taylor reopened his recruitment, the Nittany Lions came back with another offer on December 17. And from the sound of things, momentum may be swinging back in their direction. Taylor hasn’t made a final decision yet, but the door is wide open for a reunion.
If Penn State can lock down both Kemon Spell and Khalil Taylor, it would mark a massive win on the recruiting trail - not just in terms of rankings, but in keeping elite Pennsylvania talent in-state. The 2027 class is still taking shape, but the pieces are already starting to look like something special in Happy Valley.