Elite 2027 OT Layton von Brandt decommits from Penn State

Middletown (Del.) Appoquinimink four-star offensive tackle Layton von Brandt has decommitted from Penn State, he tells Rivals.

He’s one of the first to come back on the board following the firing of head coach James Franklin on Sunday. He was committed to PSU since Nov. 9, 2024.

“After talking to my family I will be decommitting from Penn State and my recruitment is 100-percent open,” von Brandt said.

He is the No. 39 overall prospect and No. 6 OT in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the top-ranked recruit in Delaware regardless of class.

von Brandt is the second junior to decommit from PSU thus far, flanking four-star linebacker Gabe Jenkins. The 6-foot-5.5, 255-pound trench monster will be as coveted as they come in the junior cycle.

“Layton von Brandt stacks up pretty well in the 2027 OL group,” Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power previously wrote of the tackle. “He’s got good length and I think he’s got a lot of room to continue filling out. I really liked his movement skills at the position. I thought he was a nimble mover, fluid and a guy who looks pretty athletic. So, when you’re looking at him long-term, I like where he stacks up.”

Five-star running back Kemon Spell is now the lone member of Penn State’s 2027 class, though he said earlier this weekend that he was no longer 100-percent with the program.

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.