Georgia’s 2027 recruiting class still has plenty of runway before early signing day in December, and that means the Bulldogs’ biggest commitments are going to keep hearing from other programs. One of the loudest names in that mix is Kemon Spell, the five-star running back who has already become a target in flip talk.
Spell shut that down on social media Wednesday, pushing back on rumors that he might be backing off his pledge to Georgia. The update came just hours after Steve Wiltfong of Rivals reported Miami’s interest in multiple committed prospects, including Spell.
The 5-foot-10, 205-pound back has been one of the headliners of the cycle since announcing for Georgia on Feb. 2, becoming the first of the Bulldogs’ two five-star commitments. Across recruiting services, he sits as a consensus five-star, ranked as a top-15 player nationally, the No. 1 running back in the class and the No. 2 prospect from Pennsylvania behind Florida offensive line commit Maxwell Hiller.
Spell’s junior season did plenty to explain the hype. He piled up 1,755 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns, earning MaxPreps Junior All-American honors while powering McKeesport High School all the way to the WPIAL 4A State Championship game.
Penn State had long been in the picture too. Because of the proximity to his hometown, the Nittany Lions were an obvious early priority, and Spell visited them multiple times before committing on Aug.
2, 2024. He kept that pledge for a year and two months before Penn State’s rough start to Big Ten play in 2025 led to James Franklin’s dismissal, and Spell became one of several Penn State commits who started looking for another landing spot.
Miami’s push makes sense on paper. Mario Cristobal has already brought in blue-chip running back talent, though most of it has come from South Florida, with Mark Fletcher, Jordan Lyle, Girard Pringle and Javian Mallory all arriving as four-star prospects from the region.
The Hurricanes also already have a running back committed in the 2027 class. Ty Keys, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound back from Poplarville, Mississippi, pledged to Miami on May 1 and is ranked as the No. 13 running back in the cycle.
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Penn State Opens Camp With One Big Offensive Stability Test
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The most immediate question is whether the offense can find some stability behind the scenes, especially with a backup running back battle unfolding and young tackles and wide receivers being asked to grow up quickly. Quarterback Rocco Becht is participating in practice, and redshirt freshman Alex Manske is also back on the field, giving the staff more options as it tries to build a workable two-deep. For a team still taking shape under a new coach, those early camp reps may end up mattering just as much as the headline names. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Coaching Wait Suddenly Feels Worth It
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The fit is part of what makes the hire resonate in State College. Campbell arrives with a reputation for building tough, organized teams, and Penn State also has the kind of experienced roster that can help a new staff get traction quickly. The bigger question now is how fast all of that turns into results, but for a fan base that has waited through the uncertainty of a coaching change, the early signs around this one have been encouraging. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Has A Comeback Story That Could Lift Its Tight Ends
Andrew Rappleyeas path has already given Penn State an encouraging subplot at tight end, and it comes at a position the Nittany Lions could use as a steadying force. After emerging as a real factor in the passing game late in 2023, when he found the end zone multiple times, Rappleyeas momentum was interrupted by a season-ending injury in the 2024 opener. Still, his return to the rotation in 2025 showed why the staff had reason to be patient with a redshirt junior whose role had been trending up.
Rappleyea is now part of a deeper, more interesting picture heading into 2026, with Luke Reynolds and Khalil Dinkins already in the mix and Iowa State transfers Ben Brahmer and Gabe Burkle joining the competition. The result is a position battle that could push Penn State toward a stronger all-around tight end room, and Rappleyeas comeback gives that storyline a built-in edge. If he can keep building on what he showed before the injury, the Lions may have one more productive option in an offense that has room for it. [Read more 🡒]