2027 Recruiting Thread

[Marshall2323]

I don't think the problem is Campbell. It's how the whole thing went down. PSU was the first top school to have an opening and the last to name a new coach. Time was critical as our recruiting class disintegrated.

I agree. Campbell is not to blame for losing the 2026 class, Kraft is. Also, it isn't Campbell's fault that PSU is not a top NIL player at the moment. He's dealing with the same financial limitations that Franklin did. That's why the recruiting is similar.

 

[LMTLION]

Taylor, Hall, Cooper and Powell (long snapper) are all crystal balls now. Taylor canceled visits to bama and neb.

 

[LionsAndBears]

Taylor, Hall, Cooper and Powell (long snapper) are all crystal balls now. Taylor canceled visits to bama and neb.

That's one heck of a sign by Taylor!

 

[LionsAndBears]

I agree. Campbell is not to blame for losing the 2026 class, Kraft is. Also, it isn't Campbell's fault that PSU is not a top NIL player at the moment. He's dealing with the same financial limitations that Franklin did. That's why the recruiting is similar.

I get the sense that even with more resources, Campbell wouldn't be the type to throw the kind of money around it takes to sign 5* talent these days. He definitely leans conservative.

 

[LMTLION]

That's one heck of a sign by Taylor!

 

[bdgan]

I get the sense that even with more resources, Campbell wouldn't be the type to throw the kind of money around it takes to sign 5* talent these days. He definitely leans conservative.

Seems that way.

But as another poster asked "What's the status of the deals with Addidas & Elevate. I read that Elevate is heading up ticketing operations and premium hospitality experiences but PSU hasn't engaged them in a private capital deal. If true that leaves Addidas but I don't know how that money gets approved or allocated.

 

[rigi19041]

What happened to those gushers of cash and "NIL" money that were going to be bursting PSU ICA's cash registers - from those "nation-leading, first-in-class, precedent setting etc etc" deals that PSU ICA crafted with the likes of PlayFly and Adidas and Elevate?

Was that an oops?

If someone does not spend money does that mean they didn't have it?

 

[RyanSnyder]

Caleb Cooper’s dad, Scott, works for the Carolina Panthers. Director of Coaching Development and Culture is his title.

 

[LMTLION]

 

[RyanSnyder]

 

[LMTLION]

This must mean Robinson is solid again as he was being pursued by others after his commitment.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Wiltfong says Notre Dame. Rivals says Sesay's NIL value is $250k.

If we lose Sesay we will have struck out on the top 4 in PA, the top 5 in MD, and the top 5 in NJ. That's a really bad outcome and it can't all be money. It seems to me that we ought to have enough money to attract a few OSU's second choices. Our money isn't that far behind the top 10.

Notre Dame recruits players who PS offer they've been doing that since Marcus started coaching. Somebody has to sit, those who do
will portal out at years end.

 

[DaytonRickster]

There is little to no difference in talent or potential between Taylor, Dean and Hall. One of the 3 has a really high price tag.

There is little to no difference in talent or potential between Taylor, Dean and Hall. One of the 3 has a really high price tag.

I don't think PSU NIL can afford all three along with Blum.

 

[psuno1]

Every school has a Addidas or Nike agreement. This does not set PSU above the top 10 spenders. Why would Addidas give PSU a better offer than it would be willing to give OSU or UM? Oregon is flush with NIke bucks.
It comes down to NIL money. PSU is not in the top 10. Perhaps not even 15. This was not the appropriate time to build luxury boxes. Too much on the landscape of college football is unsettled. The donations could have put more talent on the field.

Sandy wanted to build a whole new stadium for a billion or more, were would NIL be if that would have happened ?

 

[LB99]

Wiltfong says Notre Dame. Rivals says Sesay's NIL value is $250k.

If we lose Sesay we will have struck out on the top 4 in PA, the top 5 in MD, and the top 5 in NJ. That's a really bad outcome and it can't all be money. It seems to me that we ought to have enough money to attract a few OSU's second choices. Our money isn't that far behind the top 10.

That seems like a low number for an Edge player, to be honest. ND paid much more than that for an OL recruit last year.

 

[LB99]

I don't think PSU NIL can afford all three along with Blum.

Blum seems like the odd man out in that scenario.

 

[SkiSkiSki]

and equal concern that Franklin might as well! I think at issue is how each individual here defines success. If we follow the leader, Pat Kraft, he promised that the next coach will bring "excellence at the highest level," and the NC "we" the fans, deserve. I want to personally thank him for this.
Some clearly have settled for success as having a coach not JF .
Others say the record will be similar, but with big wins (think that through LOL)
The truth is that it will be an uphill battle to overtake OSU and Oregon without a bigger wallet.
Will we someday miss GUTTBGJ? (got us to the big game James).

AGUTTBGJBCA - Almost got us to the Big Game James But Choked Again

 

[Alphalion75]

Well, first of all, the Campbell hiring was a complete surprise. I recall immediately after JF was fired...
It went Rhule, then Urban Meyer was "interested"....but Kraft wasn't . LOL Then the morons here took over.
Marcus Freeman
Curt Cignetti
Mike Elko
Who could forget the BWICAC opening praying for Deboer to lose at Alabama so he would come to PSU to win? LOL
then came the Sitake embarrassment

Josh Heupel
Jeff Brohm
Eli Drinkwitz
Brent Key
and briefly Alex Golesh.
I honestly don't recall Matt Campbell being discussed much if at all into he fell into Kraft's lap and saved his *** for the moment.
Once Kraft had completely screwed up the process, I did hope he would get Bob Chesney. I suppose it's a toss up between Chesney and Campbell. My take is that Campbell is probably the higher floor and Chesney the higher ceiling. I just thought being a PA native and coal region product would have created a lot of buzz.
Unfortunately, my belief that for PSU to improve on Franklin's performance is more about (increased NIL to lure studs) $$$ considered anti MC. If the coach were Marcus Freeman and we're still recruiting as in the past.....why would you predict "excellence at the highest level?"

I agree....of all the names you mention...Campbell and Chesney were at the top of my list. I will say that after listening to both men, Campbell seems more sincere and real. Chesney comes across like a car salesman at times.

 

[NittanyLionRoar]

I get the sense that even with more resources, Campbell wouldn't be the type to throw the kind of money around it takes to sign 5* talent these days. He definitely leans conservative.

I get that sense too. It’s a real risk blowing so much budget on an elite 5-star high school kid just to see him transfer, get hurt, or pull a Chaz Coleman. Campbell’s strategy seems to be finding deals so he can fill out the rest of the team.

For example, when Amare Campbell was trying to get paid $1 million+ and we let him go, I said, “watch, we’ll get a linebacker just as good from the portal plus a few DT’s for that money.” And that’s exactly what happened.

 

[LB99]

I get that sense too. It’s a real risk blowing so much budget on an elite 5-star high school kid just to see him transfer, get hurt, or pull a Chaz Coleman. Campbell’s strategy seems to be finding deals so he can fill out the rest of the team.

For example, when Amare Campbell was trying to get paid $1 million+ and we let him go, I said, “watch, we’ll get a linebacker just as good from the portal plus a few DT’s for that money.” And that’s exactly what happened.

What LB did we get that you are referring to? Bacon?

 

[Anon231980]

You avoided the point of my post. How many kids play day 1? 10% or less? That should not be a disqualifying attribute for acquiring talent. I don’t see anyone on the current PSU commit list that is likely to play day one. A whole lot of top level schools are willing to get Sesay and let it work out. You also glazed over my post asking you if you had seen the Sean Fitz podcast saying this staff needs to learn how to recruit elite talent and they are doing it on the fly. Sean Fitz has been around for awhile. If he is questioning it, it isn’t just little me in a random fan board. There seems to be some legitimate concern by the insiders on Campbell’s ability to recruit elite talent.

Oh no! Sean Fitz! We are doomed, he of all those prior coaching wins during his coaching days. Give me a break

 

[Alphalion75]

You avoided the point of my post. How many kids play day 1? 10% or less? That should not be a disqualifying attribute for acquiring talent. I don’t see anyone on the current PSU commit list that is likely to play day one. A whole lot of top level schools are willing to get Sesay and let it work out. You also glazed over my post asking you if you had seen the Sean Fitz podcast saying this staff needs to learn how to recruit elite talent and they are doing it on the fly. Sean Fitz has been around for awhile. If he is questioning it, it isn’t just little me in a random fan board. There seems to be some legitimate concern by the insiders on Campbell’s ability to recruit elite talent.

You can be concerned all you want. But my concern will only be raised if the product on the field doesn't yield wins.

 

[Marshall2323]

I get the sense that even with more resources, Campbell wouldn't be the type to throw the kind of money around it takes to sign 5* talent these days. He definitely leans conservative.

Possible. You can't make chicken salad without one key ingredient. To compete for titles, PSU needs that edge or DL that's unblockable and that wide out that beats double teams. Ohio State has them. We need them. Unfortunately, in what is now AAA pro football they come with a cost. PSU will not sustain "excellence at the highest level" with any sort of consistency without those game changers.

I agree....of all the names you mention...Campbell and Chesney were at the top of my list. I will say that after listening to both men, Campbell seems more sincere and real. Chesney comes across like a car salesman at times.

We aren't looking for someone to marry. Sincere is a good quality in a mate or even a friend. I've never met an elite athlete or successful coach that doesn't have some swagger. In addition, as fans, we see what persona a public person wishes to reveal.
There may be a different personality behind the public face. I wonder how many here have ever spoken to say either Chesney, Campbell or Franklin one on one? Yet we boldly pass judgement. LOL
It passes the time, right?

 

[LB99]

You can be concerned all you want. But my concern will only be raised if the product on the field doesn't yield wins.

If the level of talent isn’t better here than it was at Iowa State, it will be tough to win in this league. The B1G is a much different animal than the Big 12.

 

[LB99]

Oh no! Sean Fitz! We are doomed, he of all those prior coaching wins during his coaching days. Give me a break

He’s been a PSU recruiting insider for years. Blow it off all you want. It was also a reference to LMTLION, whom, I was having the conversation with, about his previous chastisement of me not watching podcasts and subscribing to paywall info to get the inside scoop. He seems to have conveniently ignored that podcast.

 

[Marshall2323]

The ability to recruit is largely based on your ability to pay. Our ability to pay is not top 10. Large donations have been funneled to the stadium rather than NIL. It is as simple as that. Fundraising has not been organized sufficiently and is silo’d.

This will be a problem for an AD that made some pretty large promises. Bet he'd like to retract that nonsense.

 

[Marshall2323]

Some people are down on everything, every effort, and are opinionated experts on PSU football.

and conversely, some see "up" in everything. Like we don't need 5 stars, we coach them "up."

 

[Marshall2323]

AGUTTBGJBCA - Almost got us to the Big Game James But Choked Again

Now you have never been to a big game Matt.

 

[Alphalion75]

Possible. You can't make chicken salad without one key ingredient. To compete for titles, PSU needs that edge or DL that's unblockable and that wide out that beats double teams. Ohio State has them. We need them. Unfortunately, in what is now AAA pro football they come with a cost. PSU will not sustain "excellence at the highest level" with any sort of consistency without those game changers.

We aren't looking for someone to marry. Sincere is a good quality in a mate or even a friend. I've never met an elite athlete or successful coach that doesn't have some swagger. In addition, as fans, we see what persona a public person wishes to reveal.
There may be a different personality behind the public face. I wonder how many here have ever spoken to say either Chesney, Campbell or Franklin one on one? Yet we boldly pass judgement. LOL
It passes the time, right?

Are you referring to the swagger that Saban and Belichik have?

 

[RolexKong]

How is the stadium a drag on our ability to recruit?

I'm pretty sure that all of our wealthy alums have heard of NIL. I can't comment on how effective PSU has been at soliciting donations.

I read that the Addidas deal is worth $300 million over 10 years ($30 million per year). It's my understanding that some of that will go towards their NIL agreements and their ambassador network. That become effective on July 1st but I assume it's already being used to attract prospects to PSU.

There is a limit on how much those wealthy donors are willing to give. Money going to one purpose isn't going to another.

Every school has a Addidas or Nike agreement. This does not set PSU above the top 10 spenders. Why would Addidas give PSU a better offer than it would be willing to give OSU or UM? Oregon is flush with NIke bucks.
It comes down to NIL money. PSU is not in the top 10. Perhaps not even 15. This was not the appropriate time to build luxury boxes. Too much on the landscape of college football is unsettled. The donations could have put more talent on the field.

Reports have Adidas paying Tennessee $20 million a year, and they have a pretty good basketball team (two in most years). Why does PSU get more? Don't know. Folks in Herzogenaurauch are probably asking the same questioin.

 

[Marshall2323]

There is a limit on how much those wealthy donors are willing to give. Money going to one purpose isn't going to another.

Reports have Adidas paying Tennessee $20 million a year, and they have a pretty good basketball team (two in most years). Why does PSU get more? Don't know. Folks in Herzogenaurauch are probably asking the same questioin.

No way PSU will get more money than other big programs.

 

[Marshall2323]

Are you referring to the swagger that Saban and Belichik have?

Absolutely. Ever listen to their press conferences? They don't suffer fools.