Penn State football head coach Matt Campbell lost an in-state recruit, four-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor, to Nebraska on Monday.
This decision comes after a few months of the Nittany Lions leading the charge to land him. Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule made one last push after Taylor's mind had seemed to be made up in favor of the blue and white. After penciling in an official visit again with Nebraska, the wide receiver's head spun and did a 180-degree turn with all signs pointing towards the Cornhuskers.
It was a heartbreaking turn of events, and it stings even more knowing Penn State was the leader in his recruitment for such a long time. Tripping in the last mile of the race and giving up first place to a Big Ten rival could cause some questions about Campbell to rise.
When former head coach James Franklin was fired midway through the 2025 season, the Nittany Lions didn't have much direction as to who they were targeting, especially as big names signed contract extensions with their respective teams. The perfect options were off the table, and hiring someone better than Franklin seemed nearly impossible.
Rhule was one of the names still on the board, though, at least through the end of October. He signed a two-year extension with the Cornhuskers through the 2032 season and had a $15 million buyout Penn State would have to cough up if it took Rhule from Lincoln.
For some time, though, Rhule was one of the preferred options for the gig. He played collegiately for the Nittany Lions from 1994-97 at linebacker. The team finished 41-8 over those four seasons, won a Big Ten title, won three bowl games, and finished in the top 20 nationally each season.
On top of playing at Penn State, Rhule's coaching experience proves he knows what it takes to compete in the Big Ten. Unlike Campbell, who has elevated expectations from coaching in the Big 12, Rhule wouldn't have had to adjust to that jump.
Since Rhule was knocked out of the coaching race relatively early, there wasn't much thought as to whether he or Campbell would have been the better choice for the Nittany Lions' open job.
After Taylor's commitment, though, those thoughts will undoubtedly stir.
One commitment doesn't mean Rhule would have been the better choice, even if he did take Taylor out of Campbell's backyard in Pennsylvania. There's also still time before 2027 recruits sign, so Penn State isn't technically out of the picture.
However, the small battles in the offseason are still significant when comparing what could've been, especially in year one of Campbell's contract. Campbell can't allow the "what if" coaches overshadow him in these moments.
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