Elite 11 finals should have Penn State fans nervous about James Franklin’s QB recruiting win

Penn State had a quarterback decision to make for the 2027 class, or, more correctly, had one made for them. Matt Campbell got Penn State back into the mix for four-star Peter Bourque after he originally committed to Sherrone Moore’s Michigan Wolverines over James Franklin’s Nittany Lions. However, after settling at Virginia Tech, Franklin landed Bourque’s commitment the second time around, beating out Penn State and Georgia. 

With the Michigan de-commit trending towards Virginia Tech this offseason, Campbell and his staff pivoted to the second-highest-ranked QB recruit from Massachusetts, Will Wood, locking in his commitment just days after Bourque pledged to the Hokies. It was a change of course that many Penn State fans welcomed, or at least talked themselves into, but that could be a bit tougher after Bourque’s stellar performance at the Elite 11 Finals over the weekend. 

Bourque was named the MVP of Day 2 in Los Angeles by Rivals, and director of scouting and rankings for Rivals, Charles Power, ranked Bourque as the second-best QB for the entire weekend behind the Rivals MVP, Trae Taylor. 

Peter Bourque shows out at Elite 11 Finals and James Franklin may have a star

He’s not a higher-ranked player. He hasn’t been more impressive in camp settings, and he doesn’t have superior physical traits. Essentially, the entire argument for Will Wood having a better college career than Peter Bourque, if you buy into that possibility, is that he’s a better football player with his processing, instincts, and anticipation, while Bourque is always going to look better in a showcase. So, Bourque’s strong showing in the camp setting this weekend shouldn’t change anything. 

Still, it’s hard not to let it have any impact. With many of the best quarterbacks in the country there, Bourque was considered to be the second-best overall and the best during Day 2 from his “Pro Day” workout. His upset is undeniably high with a huge arm and great mobility, and this weekend was further proof. The big question now is, can Franklin and his staff develop him well enough to bring that potential to fruition? 

Obviously, Franklin’s reputation took a hit when he was fired six games into the 2025 season after being ranked No. 2 in the country to start the year. However, there were ways to explain away that implosion, and Virginia Tech rightfully snatched him up. The tougher reputational harm to ignore came in the offseason when 2021 five-star QB Drew Allar was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Despite starting over 30 games in his career under Franklin, Allar was viewed as a raw prospect by the NFL, and since arriving in Pittsburgh, reporters have gone so far as to describe the Steelers’ developmental plan with their new QB as something close to a factory reset. Even Penn State assistant Terry Smith, who took over for Franklin as the program’s interim head coach, admitted that Penn State’s offense wasn’t best suited to Allar’s skillset. 

It doesn’t matter how much potential Bourque has if Franklin can’t help him reach it. And Penn State fans will be happy with Wood so long as Campbell, who groomed Brock Purdy and Rocco Becht, can do the same with the incoming 3-star. But for now, Bourque’s hype train is gaining steam, and with a recruiting class that shot into the top 10 over the weekend, so are Franklin’s Hokies.

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