Penn State’s 2027 recruiting class is still in its early stages, but the Nittany Lions just took their second major hit in as many weeks-and this one stings a little extra, considering the history involved.
Maxwell Hiller, the five-star offensive lineman out of Coatesville, dropped his top four schools over the weekend, and Penn State didn’t make the cut. Instead, Hiller’s final group includes Alabama, Tennessee, Florida-where former PSU offensive line coach Phil Trautwein now resides-and Ohio State. He’s already locked in official visits to all of them except the Buckeyes.
If that wasn’t enough of a gut punch, this comes just a week after another five-star in-state standout, running back Kemon Spell, committed to Georgia. Spell had previously been committed to Penn State under James Franklin and was expected to visit again in late January.
That visit never happened. Instead, momentum shifted toward Matt Campbell’s staff, and Spell made the call to head south and join the Bulldogs.
Back to Hiller-this isn’t just any recruitment. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound interior lineman has been on Penn State’s radar for years, going back to when Franklin’s staff first offered him in eighth grade.
He’s made the trip to Happy Valley 13 times, according to Rivals-more than double any other program on his list. That kind of familiarity usually bodes well, but not this time.
Hiller is one of the most coveted linemen in the country, ranked as the No. 10 overall player in the 2027 class, the top interior offensive lineman, and the No. 2 prospect in Pennsylvania-right behind Spell. So, for Penn State to miss out on both in-state five-stars within a week? That’s a tough pill to swallow.
Recruiting, of course, is never set in stone. Things can pivot fast, especially with official visits, coaching changes, and NIL dynamics all in play. But right now, Penn State has some serious ground to make up if it wants to re-enter the conversation with Hiller.
The Nittany Lions have built their brand on locking down elite in-state talent-and when you lose two of the biggest names in your backyard, it raises questions. Not panic, but questions. There’s time left in the cycle, but if Penn State wants to keep pace with the heavyweights, it’s going to need to recalibrate and re-engage-fast.