Exclusive: Former Penn State Commit Happy For Matt Campbell, Wishes Terry Smith Had Been Promoted

In recruiting news, former Penn State commit and one of Pennsylvania’s top Class of 2027 players weighed in on PSU hiring Matt Campbell.

It Is Over: Long, Winding Penn State Coaching Search Ends With Matt Campbell

Although Khalil Taylor is happy for Campbell, his hope was for Penn State to go in a different direction.

“Congrats to Coach Campbell,” Taylor wrote to Nittany Sports Now in a direct message, “but I kinda wish Coach Terry got the job.”

“Coach Terry,” of course, is Terry Smith, who was Penn State’s interim head coach for the team’s last six games of this past regular season following James Franklin’s firing.

Although Smith’s 3-3 record looks pedestrian, he was rightfully applauded for how well he kept the team together, and many players and alumni wanted him to be promoted.

Campbell is now the head coach, but Smith is still on staff, and is the highest-paid non-coordinator in the country.

So what does all of this mean for Taylor’s chances of recommitting to Penn State?

WILL HE COME BACK?

Photo by Khalil Taylor’s Twitter account

Per 247Sports, Taylor doesn’t play on re-committing to Penn State as of now.

“Probably not, Taylor told Brian Dohn, “but you never know.”

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Taylor is a player Penn State would love to have back in the fold.

The 6-foot, 180-pounder from Pine-Richland High School in the Pittsburgh Area is the No. 4 player in Pennsylvania from his class per 247Sports, along with the No. 13 overall receiver and the No. 64 overall player in the country.

Taylor developed a connection with Smith during recruiting. Smith, a Pittsburgh guy, is Penn State’s primary recruiter for the area, and his stepson, Justin King, is Taylor’s trainer.

PENN STATE HAS WORK TO DO

Penn State and Campbell certainly have work to do on the recruiting trail. The program only has two signees from the 2026 cycle, and none from the Class of 2027.

Taylor de-committed from Penn State two days before Franklin’s firing.

4-Star Khalil Taylor De-Committs From Penn State

On that Sunday, Penn State lost its other three commitments— five-star Kemon Spell (McKeesport, PA), four-star Layton Von Brandt (Middletown, Delaware) and four-star Gabe Jenkins (Pittsburgh, PA).

Iowa State currently has one player committed to its 2027 Class,  that being four-star OL Will Slagle.

We’ll see if Slagle follows Campbell to Happy Valley.