Penn State football currently has four class of 2027 commits: four-stars running back Kemon Spell, offensive tackle Layton Von Brandt, wide receiver Khalil Taylor, and latest addition cornerback Gabe Jenkins. Now the Nittany Lions are scheduled to host a three-star wide receiver this fall, but it'll be tough work for head coach James Franklin to pull an Arizona native up North.
Jaden Baldwin, a wide receiver from Chandler, Ariz. who's ranked No. 62 in his position and No. 8 out of his state, according to 247Sports. As a sophomore at Basha High School, he posted 416 receiving yards and one touchdown on 30 catches. 247Sports national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins wrote in his scouting report that Baldwin has an athletic, six-foot-one-inch frame with room to build muscle and develop. The wide receiver is also multi-sport athlete, running track in the spring.
With a tall frame, Baldwin has good body control along the sideline and against the defense when tackled from below. He's explosive after the catch and quick to sprint through. He helped lead the Basha team to becoming the No. 2 team in Arizona.
Iowa State, Iowa, Indiana, Penn State, and Pittsburgh are the five schools with the highest chance of landing Baldwin as of right now. The Cyclones are leading with a 25.8 percent chance of earning Baldwin's commitment followed by the Hawkeyes with a 22.6 percent chance, the Hoosiers with a 19.4 percent chance, and the Panthers matching the Nittany Lions with a 16.1 percent chance each.
He also recently visited Ohio State on Aug. 18 and Arizona State University back in June. Per 247Sports' Brandon Huffman's report, the rising junior plans on visiting Indiana, Oregon, and Penn State in the fall. Baldwin has yet to make other unofficial visits logged by 247Sports.
Considering the Nittany Lions will be thin at wideout after the 2025 season, the position needs to continue to build through recruitment. Franklin, especially without the experience and talent on his current roster able to return, will need to focus on reloading positions.
Against Big Ten schools and Notre Dame, though, Penn State hasn't had much success. It's continued to fall in class of 2027 quarterback battles and hasn't been able to flip recruits to boost its class of 2026. The fall visits will be a primetime for the Nittany Lions to buckle down and show the young prospects the kind of program awaiting for them at State College.