Penn State shouldn't let this newly available class of 2026 4-star QB pass by

Recruitment has not been kind to Penn State football. Even before former head coach James Franklin was fired, commits were on the verge of de-committing. Following the departure, it's only gotten worse — naturally.

One area that consistently struggled since the summer is at the quarterback position. In the class of 2027, the Nittany Lions missed out on four-star Teddy Jarrard, four-star Peter Bourque, and four-star Brady Edmunds. Penn State has also been unlucky in the class of 2026, suffering flipped commitments in the summer and stand with a whopping zero QB commits midseason.

The blue and white need solutions in all facets of its program, but in order to build back up, athletic director Pat Kraft can't turn his back completely on recruitment. Even though he wants to focus on the players currently in the locker room, there's no future at Penn State without the incoming classes.

On Monday, a four-star quarterback from the class of 2026 de-committed from Boise State. Tradon Bessinger might be the first stop on the recruitment road.

Four-star quarterback Tradon Bessinger de-commits from Boise State and is back on the market

Bessinger isn't a recruit the Nittany Lions initially sought out, but that doesn't mean they can't hop on board now. It's not really their place to be picky anyways, especially with their current quarterback room getting slimmer by the week.

Bessinger is the No. 24 ranked quarterback from his class and 308th overall recruit, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. He received 13 offers and made two visits. Aside from seeing Boise State, Bessinger also visited Iowa on Oct. 24. The Hawkeyes are currently one of the favorites to land Bessinger, and given his latest update and de-commitment, the very recent visit might have played into his decision.

That doesn't mean Penn State should sit back and let a newly available quarterback pass by.

Iowa has four possible returning quarterbacks: junior Jackson Stratton, sophomore Hank Brown, redshirt freshman Jeremy Hecklinski, and freshmen Ryan Fitzgerald and Jimmy Sullivan. The Nittany Lions, on the other hand, give recruits more to work with. QB Ethan Grunkemeyer is more than likely the guy as he adjusts to his newfound starting role. Behind him, though, there's space for younger players to prove themselves. Even with Grunkemeyer starting, that doesn't mean it's his offense to roll with exclusively.

If playing time is a major contributor to quarterback recruits from the classes of 2026 and 2027, Happy Valley is a spot that can offer that. Penn State needs a boost under center in the near future. Having a four-star on the market is nothing but an opportunity.