After reopening his commitment on Nov. 11, four-star tight end Pierce Petersohn is projected to followed former Penn State head coach James Franklin to Virginia Tech.
On 247Sports' Crystal Ball® Predictions, there is now a 100 percent chance that Petersohn flips his commitment to the Hokies.
Four-star TE Pierce Petersohn likely to flip his commitment from Penn State to Virginia Tech
The class of 2026 recruit has yet to de-commit from the Nittany Lions' program, but it was unlikely that he stayed put after being one of the many commits who announced their interest in other schools.
According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Petersohn is the No. 326 recruit from his class and 17th overall tight end. The Minnesota native committed to Penn State on June 25, but his home-state school was still a finalist in the running.
Given the latest change in his projected flip, it's clear the impact Franklin left on Petersohn. The tight end isn't the only one. Three-star defensive back Amauri Polydor, edge rusher Tyson Harley, three-star interior offensive lineman Benjamin Eziuka, three-star linebacker Mathieu Lamah, and four-star safety Matt Sieg are all on watch to potentially join Franklin at Virginia Tech.
While Petersohn and Sieg are the only four-stars on that list, that doesn't mean more recruits won't follow. On top of that, the Nittany Lions are going to have a difficult time rallying recruits' commitments with the lack of certainty there is in Happy Valley.
As head coach candidates come off the board, Penn State doesn't have many likely options remaining. If the blue and white poach Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz or other intriguing coaches or coordinators, that will greatly impact their success in recruitment. However, there still needs to be stability with the staff and program as a whole.
Franklin isn't just a threat in recruitment. He's a threat to maintaining staff in Happy Valley. General manager of personnel and recruitment Andy Frank is joining the Hokies' staff alongside chief of staff Kevin Threlkel. It's unlikely for the list to end there.
With a massive turnaround bound to happen at Penn State from roster to coaching staff and all personnel in between, structure needs to stabilize first in order to filter in the right recruits and talent.