2027 4-star LB Gabe Jenkins decommits from Penn State

Pittsburgh Imani Christian Academy four-star linebacker Gabe Jenkins has decommitted from Penn State, he tells Rivals.

He was committed to the Nittany Lions since June, but is now the first domino to fall following the firing of head coach James Franklin on Sunday afternoon.

Jenkins is the No. 239 overall prospect and No. 13 LB in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 8 junior in Pennsylvania.

“I’m not 100-percent locked in with Penn State,” Jenkins previously told Rivals on Sunday.

He leaves PSU with just two commits in its 2027 class. Five-star running back Kemon Spell previously said that he also wasn’t 100-percent with the Big Ten power anymore and will be one to watch moving forward.

“I committed because I love Penn State,” Jenkins told BWI when he made his decision this summer. “They’ve been one of my top schools since I was young, and now both of my teammates are committed there. Who wouldn’t want to keep playing with them?”

Last month, Jenkins added offers from USC and Florida State. Before choosing PSU in June, the likes of Nebraska, Baylor, SMU, Michigan State, Pitt, Kentucky and others had offered.

Penn State fires James Franklin

In the middle of his 12th season at the helm, Franklin saw his tenure end after a loss to Northwestern over the weekend.

Franklin leaves State College with a 104-45 record since 2014 when he took the job. He is 128-60 overall as a head coach, which includes his three-year stint at Vanderbilt (24-15). Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season.

A gut-wrenching overtime loss to Oregon on Sept. 27 has spiraled into a three-game skid for the Nittany Lions. They went to Los Angeles and lost to a then-winless UCLA team that had just fired its head coach. Northwestern then went to Beaver Stadium and stunned PSU 22-21 on Saturday, dropping the preseason No. 2 team in the nation to 0-3 in Big Ten play and 3-3 overall.

Entering Sunday, the Nittany Lions have 25 commits in their 2026 class that ranks No. 16 nationally, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Of those 25 commits, 11 are four-star prospects.

Rivals is garnering reactions from Penn State commits as the former national title contender navigates what’s quickly turned into a nightmarish season.