Terry Smith stays red hot as Penn State add another 2027 DB commit

Matt Campbell was not known as a high-level recruiter at Iowa State. Instead, he won with a developmental approach that permeated his program’s culture. That’s okay in Ames. In Happy Valley, the resources are different, so the expectations on the recruiting trail are different. 

Campbell did a fair job rebuilding a 2026 class late in the process, and early on in the 2027 class, he’s leaning on a much more experienced recruiter and the man who Penn State fans wanted to have his job, Terry Smith. 

Penn State has now landed three commits in the 2027 class, and all three are defensive backs, Smith’s position group. The latest commitment came on Wednesday afternoon as New Jersey native Ka’ron Ceaser announced his pledge to the Nittany Lions.

At 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Caesar plays both ways for Winslow Township, but he is expected to stick on the defensive side of the ball at the next level, and had Smith as his primary recruiter on Campbell’s staff. 

Penn State adds third DB commitment in five days with 3-star Ka’ron Ceaser

The deluge of defensive back talent began on Saturday when three-star Semajay Robinson became the first Penn State 2027 commit. Then, Zachary Gleason Jr., a Pittsburgh three-star, joined the fray on Tuesday before Ceaser made his announcement on Wednesday. 

While none are considered to be blue-chip players yet, they have a chance to rise through their senior year. And while Campbell has yet to prove his recruiting chops, Smith is demonstrating why he’s the highest-paid non-coordinator in college football, a distinction he earned after taking over his alma mater as the interim head coach last season. 

That’s how Campbell needs to lean on his staff while he learns to swim in the four and five-star waters he’s expected to navigate as the head coach of the Nittany Lions, and it's a great start to the cycle, assuming Penn State can hold on. Though Ceaser chose Penn State over Virginia Tech and Syracuse after his unofficial visit this week, he does have official visits scheduled to both programs this spring, along with a June 5 official visit to Happy Valley, and a June 19 trip to Maryland. 

Penn State built serious momentum with Ceaser following his visit to Spring practice on Tuesday, and it seems that Smith was able to close the deal. 

A dynamic running back and wide receiver, Ceaser also returns kicks for Winslow Township High School.