Penn State is helpless to stop Ohio State from flipping its top-ranked 2026 commit

Four-star offensive tackle Kevin Brown is still technically committed to Penn State, but in the wake of James Franklin’s dismissal, he reopened his recruiting. That led him to Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, where the Buckeyes delivered the Nittany Lions a 38-14 loss on the field, and inched closer to delivering a massive blow on the recruiting trail. 

Steve Wiltfong of On3 reported that Brown was “back-and-forth” on visiting Ohio State while still committed to Penn State, but that “he is glad he did.” Wiltfong now does not expect Brown to sign with Penn State when the early signing period begins on December 3, which would be a massive loss for the remnants of Franklin’s 2026 class. 

Brown told Wiltfong of his visit to Columbus, “It was awesome. They had everything for me. They treated me like a king. They’re the best team in the nation for a reason. The facilities are top-tier, the coaching staff is beyond the best, and the player development is unmatched.” Brown is expected to return to Ohio State for an official visit, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if a commitment follows soon thereafter. 

Kevin Brown planning to official visit to Ohio State, expected to flip to the Buckeyes

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound tackle is the 61st-ranked recruit in the country according to 247Sports Composite, and the highest-ranked player in Penn State’s class, a distinction he held prior to the exodus that followed Franklin’s firing. A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native, Brown looked like a lock for the Nittany Lions but recently expressed interest in a visit to West Virginia, where his father played for Rich Rodriguez, and now Ohio State. 

In the final years of his tenure, Franklin recruited the offensive line well. The Nittany Lions will lose at least three, and possibly starting offensive linemen, to either graduation or the NFL, after this season. 

Assuming there aren’t transfer portal departures, which is a massive assumption considering the landscape of the sport and the instability of the Penn State program, former five-star J’Ven Williams and Cooper Cousins could step into starting roles, along with Anthony Donkoh and TJ Shanahan. 

Still, that succession plan is very tenuous, so beyond his impressive rating in the recruiting industry, Brown was one of the most important players in Penn State’s class because of his position. Potentially losing him to the program’s most bitter rival, and that news began to surface after the ninth-straight loss to that team, is a considerable amount of salt to pour in that wound. 

Penn State can put up little resistance because it’s not clear who will be the program’s next head coach, and who that coach will keep around on the staff. Will offensive line coach Phil Trautwein stay put? Brown and the rest of us have no way of knowing that.