2025 RB ‘still considering’ Penn State football following decommitment

Despite decommitting from Penn State football, three-star Newport (Arkansas) running back Kiandrea Barker says he’s open to returning to the Nittany Lions‘ 2025 recruiting class.

Barker announced his decommitment from James Franklin and the Nittany Lions Tuesday afternoon.

“At this time I think it is best for me to decommit from Penn State,” Barker wrote in a statement. “I have been committed to PSU for two years and feel that I should open up my recruitment. I am still considering Penn State. However, I think it is best for me to see other places to compare considering I only took one official visit. I want to thank Penn State football and Coach Franklin for their continued support.”

Change of plans👁️🚶🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/gOB5qZvv5O

— Kiandrea Barker (@KiandreaBarker) August 13, 2024

Kiandrea Barker was the second longest-standing commitment in Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class, making his pledge to the Nittany Lions in April 2023. However, signs had been pointing to a potential decommitment for some time.

Reports of mutual interest between Barker and in-state Arkansas have been brewing for months; so much so that the three-star running back reaffirmed his commitment to Penn State football in June.

However, even Barker’s pledge of “110%” commitment to the Nittany Lions haven’t put the Razorbacks out of the running.

“I’m keeping Arkansas in the back of my head,” Barker told SBLive last month. “They still have a chance.”

Whether or not Kiandrea Barker ultimately returns to Happy Valley will play out in the months to come. However, that has not been the case for the Nittany Lions’ other decommitments and flips in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

Barker is the No. 59 running back and No. 705 prospect overall, according to the On3 Industry Rankings for the 2025 recruiting cycle. Penn State’s 2025 class, which includes running backs Jabree Wallace-Coleman and Tiqwai Hayes, is now ranked 17th nationally.

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