Penn State fans, take a breath - things might be turning around faster than expected under new head coach Matt Campbell.
In a major recruiting development, five-star running back Kemon Spell is once again trending toward Happy Valley. According to 247Sports, recruiting analyst Brian Dohn has logged a crystal ball prediction favoring Penn State to land the McKeesport (PA) standout. That’s a big swing in momentum for the Nittany Lions, who’ve been in a tug-of-war with Notre Dame for one of the most electric talents in the 2027 class.
Let’s be clear: this is no ordinary recruit. Spell isn’t just the No. 1 running back in the country - he’s the No. 7 overall player in the entire 2027 cycle and the top-ranked prospect out of Pennsylvania. This is the kind of player who can change the trajectory of a program, and Penn State knows it.
The relationship between Spell and Penn State has been a rollercoaster. He originally committed to the Nittany Lions back on August 2, 2024, and stayed loyal for over a year.
But the wheels started to wobble during a rough 2025 season. Even before James Franklin was dismissed as head coach, Spell was already exploring other options.
When Franklin was officially let go, Spell decommitted the same day - October 12 - opening the door for a flurry of new suitors.
Big Ten rivals like Nebraska and Oregon wasted no time jumping into the mix. But it was Notre Dame and Georgia who quickly emerged as frontrunners, with the Irish gaining serious traction by the end of November. At that point, it looked like Penn State had lost its grip on one of the state’s premier talents.
Then came the Campbell effect.
When Matt Campbell took over in early December, one of his first major recruiting moves was to re-engage Spell. The new head coach extended an offer on December 10, and that gesture - combined with Campbell’s fresh vision for the program - reignited Spell’s interest in Penn State. Since then, momentum has quietly but steadily shifted back toward the Nittany Lions.
Now, with Dohn’s prediction in their favor, Penn State has gone from being the early favorite, to an afterthought, to very much back in the game. The fact that Spell is a Pennsylvania native certainly doesn’t hurt their chances either - the in-state pull is real, especially when paired with a renewed sense of direction under Campbell.
Of course, Notre Dame isn’t going away quietly. The Irish are a familiar rival both on the field and on the recruiting trail, and they’ve made a compelling case to land Spell.
But if Campbell can close the deal and bring Spell back into the fold, it would be a massive early win for his tenure - not just symbolically, but strategically. Holding onto elite in-state talent is how programs build long-term success, and Spell could be the first major domino to fall in Campbell’s recruiting blueprint.
There’s still work to be done, but this latest development is a clear signal: Penn State isn’t backing down, and Matt Campbell is already making his presence felt in a big way.