Matt Campbell in head-to-head battle with James Franklin to flip a 4-star Michigan QB commit

Just a few weeks ago, as Penn State signed two players in the early signing period, the Nittany Lions looked like the most dysfunctional program in the Big Ten. However, with Matt Campbell now in place and rebuilding the 2026 recruiting class, primarily with players he previously signed at Iowa State, and Michigan’s program imploding amid Sherrone Moore’s firing and scandal, the Wolverines have quickly taken that throne. 

So, Matt Campbell, understandably, is looking to take advantage of Michigan’s misfortune, but he’ll have to beat out James Franklin to do it. Four-star quarterback Peter Bourque was a top target of Franklin’s at Penn State before he committed to Michigan. Now, both Franklin’s Virginia Tech Hokies and Campbell’s Nittany Lions are making a push to flip the 2027 four-star.

Penn State pushing to flip former James Franklin QB target, Peter Bourque

Bourque is the No. 6 QB in the 2027 class according to 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Marion, Massachusetts native is a top 100 player in the country with a huge arm and excellent accuracy from the pocket. Both Penn State and Virginia Tech offered him on Tuesday. 

Penn State had previously offered Bourque under Franklin and had him on campus for an unofficial visit in January. One of the top players in the Northeast, he’s the type of recruit that Penn State expects to be in the mix for, and his recruitment will be an excellent test for Campbell and his general manager, Derek Hoodjer. 

At Iowa State, Campbell and Hoodjer were never swimming in the four and five-star waters. Now at Penn State, they’re diving into the deep end. Campbell has an excellent track record of developing players, particularly at the quarterback position, with Rocco Becht turning into a multi-year starter in Ames and Brock Purdy leading the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl after a successful career for the Cyclones. 

Those developmental chops are incredibly valuable, but to win at the highest level and compete for national championships, which is the expectation considering Franklin was fired one year after making the College Football Playoff semifinal, Campbell needs to recruit elite talent to Happy Valley. Bourque’s recruitment is an incredible proving ground for Campbell and his staff, and the stakes are high with Franklin also making a push. 

Campbell’s quarterback room is coming together a bit with 2026 four-star Peyton Falzone, who flipped from Auburn back to Penn State before Campbell was hired, and 2026 three-star Kase Evans, who was granted a release from his Iowa State signing to join the Nittany Lions. Still, Bourque is a tier above both players as a recruit, and profiles as a multi-year Power 4 starter and potential NFL prospect.