Penn State 2027 running back recruit shoots to the top of recruiting rankings ahead of sophomore season

At the start of August, nearly a month before ever taking a snap in his sophomore season at McKeesport High School in Western, PA, Kemon Spell committed to his dream school. The 5-foot-10 195-pound running back chose Penn State over Pitt, West Virginia, Michigan State, Michigan, and plenty of offers. 

Spell visited Happy Valley twice for games last season but has told reporters that the annual Lasch Bash is what put the Nittany Lions over the top this summer. Those trips to Penn State last fall, often came after dominating WPIAL football as a freshman, putting up 517 yards on just 37 carries and a few more big plays through the passing game. A two-way star, Spell also featured heavily as a defensive back, and should see both roles expand this season.

That production, along with his college interest, has shot him to the top of recently released recruiting rankings and On3 currently ranks him as the nation’s No. 7 overall recruit and No. 1 running back in the 2027 class. 

Penn State has had some success with identifying and landing commitments from talent very early in the process. However, it’s no guarantee that they’ll be able to hold onto it. Kiandrea Barker was one of Penn State’s earliest commits in the 2025 class, but recently the four-star running back changed his mind and de-committed from the Nittany Lions. 

However, James Franklin’s staff has a significant geographic advantage with Spell that they didn’t with Barker, an Arkansas native. Spell, the Western PA product, is joining a recent influx of running backs from that part of the state. Just last year, Spell and McKeesport lost in the WPIAL 4A Championship game to Aliquippa and Penn State 2025 commit Tiqwai Hayes. In 2024, Penn State added Quinton Martin Jr. from Belle Vernon, who was the first WPIAL running back to commit to Penn State since Miles Sanders in 2016.