Elite wide receiver from class of 2026 shuts down recruitment and sticks with Penn State football

Penn State football has battled with Notre Dame throughout June in the class of 2026 recruitment picture. With the third highest overall ranking for this class, the Fighting Irish beat out the Nittany Lions for high-end recruits, Grayson McKeogh, Khary Adams, and Joey O'Brien.

However, signs are hinting that Penn State might not have the same struggles with the class of 2027. Khalil Taylor, a wide receiver entering his junior year of high school, announced that he is shutting down his recruitment. Taylor committed to the Nittany Lions on March 29 and received a total of 20 offers.

The Fighting Irish were one of near two dozen. Notre Dame extended its offer to the wideout on June 19 and not long after, Taylor legitimized his initial Penn State commitment.

When he announced his commitment back in March, Taylor wrote, "1000% committed," and it appears that wasn't an exaggeration.

On3's Chad Simmons posted a video of Taylor making it official that he is no longer considering other offers.

"I love it up there," Taylor said in the video. "Every time I go up there, it’s always a good vibe. Always meeting new people, everybody speaking to me, showing me love. I just love it up there. The fans showing me love — they['re] in my Twitter comments going crazy . . . I just love it . . . peaceful, it’s just a family. Like, this is everybody together. It’s just wonderful.”

Taylor isn't the only future Nittany Lion to shut down his recruitment. Class of 2027's Kemon Spell committed to Penn State on Aug. 2, 2024 and hasn't been swayed in another direction since.

Back in March, the five-star running back and No. 18 overall recruit from the class made his announcement that Pennsylvania will remain his home for his NCAA career. Coincidentally, Notre Dame extended the elite running back an offer on March 17.

These are two in-state recruits head coach James Franklin locked up, which will be huge if both Taylor and Spell don't reopen their recruitment. Securing these elite prospects early will put the Nittany Lions in a good spot moving into next season, hopefully reeling in more top recruits as this cycle gets going.

Layton Von Brandt, from Delaware, is the third Nittany Lion commit from the class of 2027 that Franklin scooped up already. He made his commitment on Nov. 9, 2024. Brandt is a four-star recruit ranked No. 61 overall from his class and the No. 7 offensive tackle overall.