Penn State Wraps Up Active January on the Recruiting Trail as Dead Period Begins
After a whirlwind January on the recruiting front, Penn State has hit the February dead period - but not before making serious waves with a flurry of campus visits, new offers, and a few key developments that could shape the Nittany Lions’ future classes.
Let’s break down what went down over the past few weeks and where things stand heading into the spring.
Junior Day Delivers a Strong Start Under Matt Campbell
The final weekend of January marked Penn State’s second Junior Day under head coach Matt Campbell, and it was a big one. Recruits were treated to a unique experience - watching the men’s hockey team battle Michigan State inside Beaver Stadium - and the weekend brought with it some notable recruiting momentum.
The headline? Penn State’s first commitment in the 2028 class.
Cornerback Deonte Flemings made his pledge during the visit. At the time, he was unranked, but he’s since climbed to 3-star status in the 247Sports composite.
Now ranked as the No. 132 player nationally, No. 12 cornerback, and No. 3 overall in Pennsylvania, Flemings is already looking like a foundational piece for that class.
Another name to watch from that weekend: Stanley Montgomery, a 3-star defensive lineman in the 2027 class. At the time of his visit, he was committed to Syracuse - but that changed quickly.
Montgomery decommitted shortly after Junior Day, a move that followed two school visits from Penn State staffers. First, defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe and edge rushers coach Christian Smith checked in.
Then came a visit from Campbell himself, along with running backs coach Savon Huggins. That kind of attention speaks volumes.
Several other key 2027 prospects with ties to Campbell’s Iowa State days were also in town. That group included 4-star linebacker Case Alexander (whose brother Cooper Alexander transferred to Penn State this offseason), 4-star offensive lineman Will Slage (a former Cyclone commit), and 3-star linebacker Blake Betton, who’s already scheduled an official visit for the summer.
Another notable visitor with a Penn State connection was 4-star offensive tackle Davis Seaman, who plays at Bishop Watterson High School in Ohio - the same program that produced 2026 signee Pete Eglitis.
Among the other 2027 prospects who made the trip to Happy Valley:
- 4-star linebacker Tysir Young
- 3-star running back Kelvin Morrison
- 3-star athlete DJ Davis
- Unranked defensive lineman Cahron Wheeler
- Cornerbacks Ryan Drakeford and **DeNairo Girton Jr.
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Final Lists: Where Penn State Stands
As top prospects begin narrowing their college choices, Penn State has made the cut for several high-profile 2027 recruits - though they’ve also missed out on a few.
The Nittany Lions are still in the mix for:
- 3-star safety Zayvon Miller (Top 4)
- 4-star interior offensive lineman Kyler Kuhn (Top 5)
- 4-star defensive lineman George Toia (Top 8)
- 5-star defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou (Top 10)
On the flip side, Penn State didn’t crack the final four for 5-star interior offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller or 4-star linebacker Noah Glover.
Hiller’s current top four includes Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. That said, he still has one official visit weekend unaccounted for - potentially leaving the door cracked for Penn State to re-enter the picture.
As for Glover, the Virginia native was re-offered by the new staff in January. His top six includes Virginia Tech, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Miami, and Texas A&M - a tough group to crack, but the interest from both the previous and current staff shows Penn State’s persistence.
One particularly intriguing recruitment is that of Jimmy Kalis, a Pittsburgh native and son of former NFL lineman Todd Kalis. He recently dropped a top six of Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Texas, Clemson, and Miami, but reports suggest Penn State is still very much in the hunt after re-offering him under the new regime.
Visits on the Horizon
With the dead period underway, the next big window for recruiting activity will come during spring practices and summer official visits - and Penn State is already lining up a strong slate.
Among those who’ve locked in official visits:
- 4-star cornerback Kei’Shjuan Telfair
- Cornerback Semjay Robinson
- Running back Gary Walker
- Safety Rico Jackson
- 4-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor
- 4-star safeties Gabe Jenkins and Malakai Taufoou
- 3-star running back Aiden Gibson
- 3-star athlete Jonathan Galette
- 3-star cornerback **Zachary Gleason Jr.
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- Linebacker Blake Betton (previously mentioned)
On the spring visit front, two 4-star names are already planning return trips to State College:
- Defensive end Mekai Brown, who was re-offered after an in-home visit from Smith, is set to visit on April 3.
He was also in attendance for the Nevada game last fall.
- Offensive tackle Layton von Brandt, a former Penn State commit, will be back on campus April 18.
He’s been in regular contact with Campbell and offensive line coach Clanton, including an in-home visit. Penn State remains in his top eight.
Targets Headed Elsewhere - For Now
Not every recruitment breaks your way, and Penn State saw a couple of notable targets commit elsewhere recently.
In the 2026 class, 4-star wide receiver Samson Gash, a Michigan State commit, stayed loyal to the Spartans despite a late push from the Nittany Lions. Gash, whose father Sam played fullback at Penn State, received an offer from the new staff in December and visited in January - but ultimately stuck with his original commitment.
Then there’s the case of Kemon Spell, a 5-star running back in the 2027 class and former Penn State commit. The in-state star from McKeesport was expected to attend the first Junior Day in January, but weather prevented the trip. Instead, he visited Georgia the following weekend and committed to the Bulldogs shortly after.
That said, Spell’s recruitment has been unpredictable. Before his initial commitment to Penn State, several national analysts had him pegged for Notre Dame, and there’s a sense that his journey is far from over. Don’t be surprised if he circles back to Happy Valley down the line or continues to explore other top programs nationwide.
Looking Ahead
With the February dead period in full swing, Penn State’s staff will shift focus to prepping for spring visits and continuing to build relationships with key 2027 and 2028 targets. The early returns under Matt Campbell suggest a staff that’s aggressive, well-connected, and not afraid to swing big - even when the odds are long.
The next few months will be crucial as the Nittany Lions look to solidify their board and turn visits into commitments. For now, the foundation is being laid - and it’s clear this staff is wasting no time getting to work.