Despite being on his bye week, it was still a busy day of football activities for James Franklin.
Penn State’s head coach entered his helicopter and hit the recruiting trail throughout Western PA Monday.
Franklin and associate head coach, cornerbacks coach/defensive recruiting coordinator Terry Smith, visited multiple prospects in the WPIAL who have either committed or are being heavily persuaded by Penn State.
Franklin and Smith met with 2027 five-star McKeesport running back commit Kemon Spell early in the day. Spell attended Penn State’s win over Villanova and Spell confirmed to Nittany Sports Now that he is planning on attending the White Out against Oregon Sept 27.
Spell scored five touchdowns, including the opening kickoff back to the house, in his first game against Delaware Valley. He missed Friday’s game against Belle Vernon with an injury and had been limited following the Week 0 win.
Happy Valley United interviewed Spell during his visit last week. A fan in the comments made a statement about Spell’s commitment to Penn State, “if he stays” committed. Spell responded, “I am staying.”
The duo also visited Imani Christian defensive back/running back David Davis. Davis, a three-star recruit in the class of 2026, committed to Penn State on March 25. Smith was the main coach recruiting Davis, who ranks as the No. 10 player in PA.
Franklin and company landed at Pine-Richland High School on Monday to meet with four-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Taylor transferred to Pine-Richland from Seton La Salle this season and was ruled eligible for the playoffs by the WPIAL on Monday.
Regarded as a 90-overall player in the class of 2027 by 247Sports, Taylor is the No. 4 player in the state. He committed to Penn State on March 29 and attended Penn State’s victory against Nevada earlier this year. Like Spell, Taylor scored a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on his first touch of the season.
Franklin and Smith visited Hampton sophomore quarterback James Armstrong. Penn State offered the 6-foot-3, 230-pound quarterback on Monday, the same day Armstrong received an offer from Bill Belichick and North Carolina.
Armstrong is a member of the class of 2028 but doesn’t have an official recruit ranking yet by 247Sports. He has already visited PSU’s campus and is building a relationship with Franklin.
“It’s an amazing program. They have amazing facilities,” Armstrong told Vikings Sports Now. “My favorite (thing) as a recruit is that it’s set in stone that Coach Franklin is going to be there for a while. Seeing that, I know that if I keep doing what I need to do that I’m going to be able to go there one day.”
Penn State begins Big Ten play with a top-six matchup against Oregon on Saturday, September 27 at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.
