Matt Campbell got off to a fast start to the 2027 recruiting cycle, but after hitting a few potholes and speed bumps, the Nittany Lions appeared to be leaking oil. Sunday, however, may have changed that. Amid a few hotly contested recruiting battles and coming off untimely flips, Campbell managed to lock down a commitment from four-star linebacker Case Alexander.
The Oklahoma-native chose Penn State over Oklahoma, which made a late push, Texas Tech, and Kansas State. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he’s the 22nd-ranked linebacker in the country by 247Sports Composite and ranked No. 266 overall.
BREAKING: Four-Star LB Case Alexander has Committed to Penn State, he tells me for @Rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 21, 2026
The 6’3 215 LB chose the Nittany Lions over Oklahoma, Kansas State, and Texas Tech
“God is good!! LBU I’m home.”https://t.co/m8npM4xQZO pic.twitter.com/i1eyKqXoMN
Alexander was a commitment Penn State had long been expected to land, and now that he’s in the fray, Campbell may finally have things back on track with a few major decisions looming this week.
Penn State’s Case Alexander pick-up is a big bounce-back at a crucial time
While he’s not a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker, Alexander has the speed to play in space and shows comfort dropping into coverage. He’s best, however, when he can play downhill. He triggers quickly and has a knack for navigating through the trenches to fill the run lane before the running back can ever find it. Then, one-on-one, he’s an excellent tackler.
Alexander was an Iowa State target before he became a priority recruit for Campbell at Penn State. Though Campbell opted for a major defensive shift, going from Jon Heacock’s 3-3-5 to D’Anton Lynn’s 4-2-5, linebackers are still expected to play a major role in his program.
Campbell brought three of them over from Ames and retained Tony Rojas and Alex Tatsch to play roles on this year’s team. This shows the emphasis, and all along, Alexander was his top linebacker target in the 2027 class, so landing him was paramount. Three-star Blake Betton is the only other linebacker commit in the 2027 class, though Campbell is still battling James Franklin for Virginia native Tyson Washington.
Now, with the six-week recruiting dead period underway on June 22, Campbell will have to hold his breath as two other key targets are set to announce their commitments this week. Four-star wide receiver Deshawn Hall has his commitment date set for Tuesday, and though he’s trending toward staying at home and choosing Auburn, the Nittany Lions are still in the mix. On Wednesday, it’s four-star cornerback Dhillon McGee’s turn, as he decides between Penn State, SMU, and Texas.
Alexander’s commitment vaulted Penn State back into the national top 15 with 21 commits in place. Just outside the top 10 feels like it’s Campbell’s ceiling in Year 1, but it’ll take some work to finish there, even after this move. So, Penn State better hope this win is a harbinger of more to come.
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