Picking up where they left off after their best year under James Franklin, the Nittany Lions are on a roll that has everyone in State College envisioning big things. After finally reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals and tallying a school-record 13 victories, the expectations are high for 2025. Franklin’s been open about the unique challenges and possibilities of coaching at a program with so much expectation. And now that a grizzled roster, a quarterback who’s attracting the attention of the NFL, and a schedule that appears manageable are all in place, there’s a feeling around the program that this will be Franklin’s storybook season—a season when Penn State finally clears the final hurdle and knocks off the likes of Ohio State on the biggest of stages.
But here’s the thing: all this on-field success is directly translating to Penn State’s recruiting engine. The 2026 class is going to be one for the ages. The staff, led by Franklin and veteran coordinators like Terry Smith, are committing early and often. Last week alone, they signed four-star corner Jaziel Hart out of Virginia, who chose Penn State over more than two dozen offers after a last-minute push from Michigan because of the consistency and commitment of the program. What’s most impressive, however, is the way Penn State is recruiting nationally and locally. They’ve won over six in-state recruits, including blue-chip tackle Kevin Brown, and went all the way to California to sign a blue-chip quarterback.
After a full-fledged reload for the Nittany Lions’ 2026 class, national analyst Brian Smith asks a very concerning question on the Locked on Nittany Lions podcast on 22nd May. “How many DBs do you think are going to leave after the 2025 season?” He continues, “You got to figure you’re going to lose one out of each room, generally, like every room probably loses a guy, so they’re going to lose five or six guys.”
Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class is making serious noise, especially in the defensive backfield. James Franklin and his staff have already secured commitments from four major DBs—Jaziel Hart, Dorian Barney, Khary Adams, and Joey O’Brien—and the buzz around this group is hard to ignore. On the surface, this sounds like a dream scenario, right? Who wouldn’t want a stable full of elite athletes in the secondary?
But that’s where concern sets in, and it’s not nitpicking. Everything has a price. At what point is it a strength and not a weakness to stockpile DBs? The major concern is all about numbers and roster control. Penn State has a 4-2-5 defense, so they do need many DBs. But even with that, signing six, seven, or even eight DBs in a class is a little crazy. But if you’re signing more DBs than you’re losing, you begin to build a logjam. And that’s where things begin to be a problem. If you keep piling up commitments from “good” DBs early, you may push away the “great” ones still in the picture. Consider this: you’re a top-50 national recruit, and you see seven other DBs already committed—do you want to get into that battle?
“At the end, if you can get Khary Adams or Joey O’Brien or somebody like that, they can play other positions like Jaziel Hart, like I can argue they get him, he’s just as good a wide receiver prospect,” says Smith. Now, there’s also the issue of versatility—some of these recruits might be able to play wide receiver or other spots, which helps somewhat. But at the end of the day, the fear is legitimate: you don’t want to wind up with a load of disgruntled, underused players or, worse, miss out on a generational player because you oversold at one position.
The Khary Adams showdown
James Franklin has been specific and monstrous with Penn State’s recruiting strategy. If you’ve been watching the Nittany Lions, you know that Franklin is not simply playing checkers—he’s playing chess, and the board is as competitive as things get. Penn State is riding the high of a huge season—a first-ever College Football Playoff bid, a 13-3 record, and a whole lot of national attention. But with that success came some instability: the transfer portal came with a vengeance, with key players like linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson and cornerback Jon Mitchell leaving gaps in the defense, and high-flying receiver Harrison Wallace III transferring to Ole Miss. For many programs, that kind of turnover might be a death knell. But not for Franklin.
Franklin’s plan? Patch the holes in a hurry and stay on the roll. He’s been active in the transfer portal, adding proven commodities such as receiver Julian Fleming from Ohio State to the receiving unit and A.J. Harris from Georgia to provide depth to the defensive secondary. But he’s not just looking outward—he’s doubling down on recruiting in-state, flipping blue-chip Pennsylvania prospects such as tight end Andrew Olesh from Michigan. Franklin knows that keeping the best of the local crop at home is the recipe for the long game, and he’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the big boys to get it done. Here’s where this becomes even more fascinating: the battle for four-star cornerback Khary Adams. Adams is a top-100 national prospect and a gigantic Penn State priority. But it’s not a certainty. Notre Dame, under Marcus Freeman, is making a compelling case.
Adams had a positive visit, bonded with coaches, and left torn. And don’t discount Michigan, either. Sherrone Moore is working overtime, particularly after losing Ja’Den McBurrows to the portal, and Adams left Ann Arbor feeling at home. Franklin’s approach here is all about fit and relationships. He’s selling Penn State culture, the record of player development, and the opportunity to be part of something special. Adams himself said he adores the coaches and the atmosphere in Happy Valley—but Notre Dame and Michigan are hard-selling, too, with their respective appeals.
But even if Adams does manage to escape, Franklin’s not putting all his eggs in one basket. He’s already recruited the next generation, like 2026’s top cornerback Brandon Arrington of California, who just raved about his Penn State visit. Franklin’s approach is tireless and multi-tiered. He’s plugging holes in the short term, locking up the state, battling bluebloods for national-level talent, and always looking down the road.
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