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Top-ranked Penn State commit shuts down recruitment

Fitz headshot croppedby:Sean Fitz•03/29/25•

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Penn State running back commit Kemon Spell. (Credit: Ryan Snyder | Blue White Illustrated)

Following a commitment from Pittsburgh (Pa.) Seton-LaSalle wide receiver Khalil Taylor on Saturday afternoon, Penn State now holds pledges from the top two underclassmen in Pittsburgh. Taylor joined McKeesport running back Kemon Spell in the Nittany Lions’ Class of 2027. 

The catch, however, was that Spell recently expressed an interest in visiting other schools following Ja’Juan Seider’s departure for Notre Dame. That no longer appears to be the case.

“I’ve shut down my recruiting,” Spell told BWI after visiting Penn State on Saturday afternoon. “My talk with coach [James] Franklin was awesome, man. He sat down with me and my parents and talked about the love he has for me and my family and how I will be treated just like his kids.

“Me and [Penn State running backs] coach [Stan] Drayton’s relationship has gotten stronger and stronger the more we talk, the more we go over things. I saw something special in my eyes. I want him coaching me [from] what I seen on my visit today. It is something like home, that’s where I’m meant to be, where I was born to play. 

“The coaches, they all love me. I got to sit down and have a few conversations with the offensive coordinator [Andy Kotelnicki]. I love his energy, he loves me and wants to get to know me more.”

Penn State commit is one of the top running backs in the Class of 2027

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Spell is the nation’s top running back in the Class of 2027, according both On3 and the On3 Industry rankings. He checks in at No. 7 overall by the Industry and No. 8 nationally by On3. He’s the top player in Pennsylvania according to both metrics.

Following the commitment of Taylor, who is the No. 32 overall prospect, No. 4 wide receiver and No. 2 in Pennsylvania, the Nittany Lions are off to a strong start in the next cycle. Adding Delaware offensive lineman and Penn State commit Layton von Brandt into the mix, Penn State now has three of the top 40 players in the Class of 2027 on board. 

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