Recruiting insider already regretting unexpected QB prediction means Penn State is out

For weeks, it has appeared that Penn State has zeroed in on three-star Will Wood as its top quarterback prospect in the 2027 class. Then, out of nowhere on Tuesday, two days before his commitment date, Rivals’ national recruiting insider Adam Gorney unexpectedly predicted four-star Peter Bourque to the Nittany Lions. 

Gorney’s prediction was a surprising twist in the final days of the former Michigan commit’s recruitment. However, Gorney quickly walked it back on social media, admitting he threw out some outdated information on the spot, and reiterating Penn State’s interest in Wood. 

Gorney’s retraction sets the stage for the two-horse race most have anticipated between Georgia and James Franklin’s Virginia Tech Hokies. Bourque is set to make his announcement on Thursday. He is the No. 7 quarterback in the class according to 247Sports Composite and a top-100 recruit in the country. 

Adam Gorney walks back Peter Bourque prediction to Penn State

Flat out, Penn State is out of the race for Bourque, and it doesn’t appear, at least, that Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer will be too upset about it. Penn State was on hand to watch Bourque throw on Tuesday in Massachusetts, so maybe something has changed in that regard, but Wood has clearly become the priority. 

Now, the question is, did Campbell and Penn State pivot because they could feel Bourque slipping away, or did they pivot because they value Wood, who is currently the 29th-ranked QB in the class and 488th overall recruit to the same level as Bourque? Nittany Lions fans should hope it's the latter, and with Campbell's track record of developing quarterbacks, an underwhelming recruiting ranking heading into Wood’s senior season shouldn’t be a major red flag. 

Bourque was originally a top target of Franklin’s in the 2027 class before he committed to Michigan. However, that commitment came when Sherrone Moore was still in charge in Ann Arbor, and Kyle Whittingham has seemingly not kept his Wolverines in the mix. To his credit, Campbell reignited Penn State’s interest in the highly-ranked QB, but he has clearly been unable to make up ground on Franklin. 

At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Bourque has prototypical size and solid athleticism to create outside of structure and throw off-platform. With experience in a pro-style offense, which would translate well to Happy Valley with Taylor Mouser calling the plays under Campbell, he made sense as a target. 

Penn State needs to close the deal with Will Wood

Either dropping out willingly or being forced out of the race for Bourque will only sting if Penn State can’t close the deal with Wood, who received his offer from the Nittany Lions on April 20. Like Bourque, Wood is a Massachusetts native, and at this point in his recruitment, former Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien, now at Boston College, is positioned as Campbell’s top competition. 

At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Wood doesn’t quite have the size that Bourque boasts, but he flashes a lot of similar traits. He climbs the pocket well, layers throws to the second level, can create real horsepower off-platform, and has advanced ball placement, routinely giving his receiver a chance to win contested catches or create yards after the catch. 

Wood is certainly more than a consolation prize, but if, and presumably when, Bourque chooses Virginia Tech or Georgia on Thursday, the pressure to get him on campus will ratchet up for Campbell.

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