Penn State came up short in its pursuit of one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 recruiting cycle.
Chandler (Chandler, Arizona) signal-caller Will Mencl, who appeared to leave Penn State in strong standing after his visit and included the Nittany Lions among his final three, announced Wednesday night that he is committing to Oregon.
That decision gives Dan Lanning yet another high-profile quarterback addition and leaves many wondering where Penn State now stands at the position in the 2027 class.
Oregon’s quarterback room is set to be one of the most crowded and intriguing in the country over the next two seasons. Dante Moore opted to return for the 2026 season, former five-star Dylan Raiola transferred in from Nebraska, and now Mencl adds another major talent to the mix.
For Penn State, Mencl’s decision means Matt Campbell and his staff must continue working the board and identify who the quarterback in this class will be.
The Nittany Lions offered four other quarterbacks besides Mencl, but two are already off the board. Keegan Croucher, a four-star from Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is committed to Ole Miss. Another target, Kael Snyder of Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, has also come off the board after committing to Boise State.
That leaves a pair of Massachusetts quarterbacks as the most notable names on Penn State’s radar: four-star Peter Bourque of Tabor Academy in Marion and three-star Will Wood of Xaverian Brothers.
Bourque is the bigger name and, at least on paper, the more coveted prospect. Last season, he completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,241 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 80 times for 688 yards and 15 more scores, showing the kind of mobility that makes him more than just a traditional pocket passer.
What makes Bourque especially intriguing is the blend of size, arm talent and poise. He has a towering stature at quarterback with a live arm, strong exit velocity and the ability to vary his release points while maintaining accuracy.Â
Bourque’s vision allows route concepts to develop and looks comfortable operating in a pro-style offense. Bourque has shown he can drive the football to the intermediate and deep levels while also thriving off play-action.Â
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Penn State appears to be firmly in the mix for Bourque, with recruiting services generally pointing toward the Nittany Lions or Michigan. Still, there is a belief in some circles that Georgia could emerge as a dangerous contender.
The Bulldogs already stung Penn State once by flipping McKeesport five-star running back Kemon Spell, and they remain a program to watch in any major recruiting battle. Part of the Bourque intrigue may depend on how Georgia’s board shakes out elsewhere, particularly with top-rated quarterback Elijah Haven of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, nearing his own decision.
If Bourque ultimately stays away from Athens, Penn State’s positioning in that battle becomes even more important.
Then there is Wood, who may be the most realistic name to watch in the near term.
Wood is a three-star prospect, but his production jumps off the page. Last season, he threw for more than 2,800 yards and 42 touchdowns, leading Xaverian Brothers to a 41-35 win over St. John’s Prep in the MIAA Division I Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.
His visit schedule also suggests Penn State is very much in the thick of it. Wood is set to take official visits to Boston College on May 29, Penn State on June 5, West Virginia on June 12 and Arkansas on June 19, just before the summer dead period.
Wood has indicated Penn State sits near the top of his recruitment, though North Carolina, West Virginia and Boston College have all made things interesting.
That is why missing on Mencl matters. Once Rocco Becht and Connor Barry move on, Penn State’s long-term quarterback picture becomes far less settled. Alex Manske, Peyton Falzone and Kase Evans provide pieces, but Campbell still needs to secure a true 2027 answer.
Penn State may eventually use the transfer portal again at quarterback. In today’s college football landscape, that is almost expected. But Campbell cannot afford to leave this class without identifying and landing a developmental quarterback to build around. After Mencl chose Oregon, the spotlight now turns to Bourque, Wood and whether Penn State can close on one of them.
