Matt Campbell is wasting no time making waves in Happy Valley.
Just over a month into his tenure as Penn State’s head coach, Campbell is already in position to do something he never managed in his decade at Iowa State: land a five-star recruit. That opportunity comes this weekend, when elite running back Kemon Spell - the No. 1 back in the 2027 class and the No. 7 overall player in the nation - visits campus. And if the buzz around this visit is any indication, Campbell may be on the verge of a signature recruiting win that could set the tone for his era in State College.
Now, let’s be clear - Campbell’s track record at Iowa State was built on player development, not blue-chip recruiting. He rarely dipped into the four-star pool, let alone landed a five-star.
But that never stopped him from building competitive teams. He turned three-star prospects into consistent eight-win squads and even delivered an 11-win season in 2024 - a feat that put him on the national radar.
Still, the question hung over him: could he recruit at the highest level if given the resources?
Penn State is giving him that chance, and early signs suggest he’s ready to capitalize.
Spell had previously committed to Penn State under James Franklin back in 2024, but after the team’s early-season stumble against Oregon and Franklin’s eventual dismissal, the McKeesport standout reopened his recruitment. That gave Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer a second shot - and they’ve clearly made the most of it.
If Spell does commit, he won’t just be a statement recruit. He’ll be the first domino in what could become one of the most talented in-state hauls in program history.
Pennsylvania is loaded with top-tier talent in the 2027 cycle, and Spell is just the headliner. Four other in-state prospects rank in the 247Sports Composite Top 100, including five-star offensive tackle Maxwell Hiller (No. 10 overall) and four-star wide receivers Khalil Taylor (No. 65) and Matthew Gregory (No.
64). Add in four-star EDGE Abraham Sesay (No. 80), and Campbell has a real shot to build a class that could reshape the Nittany Lions’ trajectory in the Big Ten.
Taylor, like Spell, was once committed to Franklin and is now trending back toward Penn State. If Campbell can secure both - and potentially a few more from that elite in-state group - he’ll not only answer the recruiting questions that followed him from Ames, but he’ll also put Penn State squarely back in the national conversation.
Of course, landing all five of these top-100 prospects would be a tall order. Even pulling in a majority would be a huge win.
But this is exactly the kind of opportunity Campbell was brought in for - to elevate Penn State from perennial contender to championship-caliber program. And if the early momentum with Spell is any indication, Campbell is already laying the foundation for something big in Happy Valley.