Few rosters faced the level of roster turnover that Penn State did this offseason amid its transition from James Franklin to Matt Campbell. Yet, even the completely new-look roster has a similar hole at wide receiver.
Campbell brought talented veterans Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen with him from Ames, along with a few intriguing youngsters, Zay Robinson and Karon Brookins. Plus, he managed to retain Koby Howard, who appears poised for a breakout in the slot this year. However, the pipeline of wide receiver talent is still quite bare, making it a top priority for the 2027 recruiting class.
With that in mind, Matt Campbell and his staff, most notably newly-hired wide receiver coach Kashif Moore, cast a wide net, positioning Landon Blum, Jamir Dean, Deshawn Hall, and Khalil Taylor as their top targets at the position. However, Dean has since flipped from Penn State to Georgia, Hall has chosen Auburn, and this week, Taylor, the most important and highest-rated of the group, announced his commitment to Nebraska. So, it’s time to pivot elsewhere to find another wideout to pair with Blum in the 2027 class.
The only problem is there aren’t many options left on the board in the 2027 class. At least not uncommitted ones. It may take a late push for a player who wasn’t previously a priority or an unexpected flip, but Penn State needs to add another WR to the class. Here are its best options.
1. Matthew Gregory: 4-star - Pottstown, PA (UCLA commit)
Matt Campbell has not had success recruiting in Pennsylvania. He has just one commit from the top 20 players in the state, and Matthew Gregory hardly considered the Nittany Lions this summer, taking official visits to UCLA, LSU, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and Nebraska instead. However, the in-state recruit went to Penn State’s Junior Day in January and holds an offer from the Nittany Lions, so if Campbell can get him on campus this fall, he may be able to change his mind.
UCLA has shot to the top of the recruiting rankings with new head coach Bob Chesney, but if you had to bet on one top 20 class that is a house of cards, the Bruins would be the favorite. Chesney has revamped the fundraising efforts with his new program, but this is a staggering turnaround, and if the checks don’t clear, he won’t make it through signing day. If it does fall apart, Campbell needs to be ready to pounce.
2. Zayden Smith: 3-star - Harrisburg, PA (Texas Tech commit)
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver fits the archetype that Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer seem to value at the position with all the big-bodied receivers they brought in this offseason. However, they waited until June to offer Smith, just 11 days before he committed to the Red Raiders, and if we know anything about Texas Tech, it’s that the checks are definitely going to clear.
Still, Smith was a bit of a late bloomer, and Texas Tech’s offer rolled in the same day Penn State’s did. There’s a chance he gets cold feet about heading so far away and instead opts to stay close to home. That’s Penn State’s best chance because attempting to outbid Texas Tech is a fool’s errand.
3. James Branch: 3-star - Baltimore, MD (uncommitted)
There are not many players who are still uncommitted in the 2027 class, and when you narrow your search to wide receivers Penn State has offered, the list obviously gets much shorter. Of that group, which includes zero-star Jaerron Johnson from Virginia, three-star Brawley Tuitupou from Utah, and three-star Eli Ferguson from Tennessee, James Branch is the most highly-ranked, closest, and the best stylistic fit at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds.
Penn State hasn’t been a major factor in Branch’s recruitment since offering him in March, but now could be a good time to turn up the heat.
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