Separate from the rest of the 2027 class, in-state four-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor is a priority recruit for Penn State. When you throw in the context of Matt Campbell’s struggles recruiting Pennsylvania in his first go-round, and Jamir Dean’s flip to Georgia on Monday, landing the Pine Richland product is an even bigger deal.
It appears as though Penn State was going to close the deal with Taylor, the one-time James Franklin commit, after his official visit on June 5. Taylor canceled his remaining trips to Nebraska and Alabama, and predictions came in for him to choose the Nittany Lions. However, reports on Sunday revealed that Taylor’s trip to Lincoln is back on, so Campbell has real cause for concern.
As Zach Seyko relayed from a Rivals report, Taylor canceled his Alabama visit, which was scheduled for this upcoming weekend, and replaced it with an official visit to Nebraska, which was originally scheduled for this past weekend.
Per Rivals, Penn State 2027 WR target Khalil Taylor has cancelled his upcoming official visit to Alabama and will now take an OV to Nebraska from June 19-21.
— Zach Seyko (@zach_seyko) June 15, 2026
Matt Rhule is turning up the heat on Matt Campbell
Matt Rhule didn’t leave Nebraska for the Penn State job, but he’s still been very busy recruiting PA this offseason, particularly at the wide receiver position. In addition to being in on Taylor, Rhule made a serious push for Pottstown, PA, four-star Matthew Gregory, another top-10 player in the state.
Gregory, however, committed to UCLA over the weekend, joining a loaded Bruins class as Bob Chesney has quietly turned the program into a meaningful Big Ten competitor on the recruiting trail. With Gregory, who was largely predicted to choose the Huskers, off the board, Rhule is likely upping the ante in pursuit of Taylor, so it will be a costly battle to win for Penn State.
In general, it’s wise not to let a desperate competitor drive the price up on a recruit, at least not beyond a price you’re comfortable paying. It has seemed that Penn State has been willing to walk away from negotiations in those circumstances, particularly with a run of recent flips from Semajay Robinson, Zachary Gleason Jr., and Dean. However, when it comes to Taylor, Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer need to make an exception.
Whatever you think of the job Rhule has done in Lincoln, Nebraska is flush with cash, so it’s a real threat for Taylor. Penn State simply cannot miss on this one, though. Currently, the Nittany Lions hold a commitment from just one of the top 20 players in Pennsylvania according to 247Sports Composite, and of the uncommitted players in that group, Taylor is the only one they’re seriously involved with.
Matt Campbell's PA struggles will be under a major microscope
The 2027 crop in Pennsylvania is one of the most talented in years. It could have been the foundational piece of a championship roster for the Nittany Lions. Instead, with Maxwell Hiller heading to Florida, Kemon Spell committed to Georgia, and Abraham Sesay deciding between Notre Dame and LSU, it will loom as a huge ‘what if.’
Plus, even with a strong 2027 class, there will be an undeniable sense of unease throughout the fanbase if all of the best players in Pennsylvania have effectively rejected Penn State’s new hire.
Again, making decisions based on factors like optics is another way to make poor investments. But when it comes to Penn State’s hold on the talent in PA, losing Taylor would send a horrifying message that would have ripple effects through the 2028 class, which is also loaded with talent.
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