In the 12 months since he’s committed to the Penn State football program, Kemon Spell has become one of the most coveted prospects in the country. On Saturday afternoon, the 2027 running back showed why.
Spell got his junior year with McKeesport (PA) off to a hot start in the Tigers’ season-opener against Delaware Valley. In fact, it would be difficult to script a much better start. The five-star prospect opened with three touchdowns – a 98-yard kickoff return and two 80+ yard runs – on his first three touches of the game.
The future Nittany Lion finished the game with an absurd stat line: 13 carries for 293 yards and five total touchdowns. The Tigers roared to a 51-24 win in what was a statement game for Pennsylvania’s top recruit in 2027.
“I got bigger and faster [this offseason],” Spell told KDKA’s Austin Bechtold afterward. “Track got me faster. I’ve been in the weight room for eight months, like I’ve been saying. So, that’s been helping me a lot. And, I work on my agility, my training, all that other stuff.”
Penn State will have to fend off elite schools to keep Spell in PA
Penn State football has a proven history of keeping Pennsylvania’s best running back prospects in the state. However, that task may be tougher than ever for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions when it comes to Kemon Spell.
Ultimately, other schools were always going to come calling for the No. 9 recruit in the country. But the attempts to flip Spell have only intensified since Nittany Lions running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider took the same role at Notre Dame earlier this year. The Fighting Irish have been among the most persistent programs trying to convince Spell to look elsewhere.
While Spell has stayed steadfast in his commitment to the Nittany Lions, that loyalty will surely continue to be tested this fall. In addition to his planned White Out visit in September, the nation’s top running back has trips to Notre Dame (September 13), Florida State (October 3), and Alabama (October 18) on the calendar.
After falling short with some of the Keystone State’s most high-profile prospects in the 2025 and 2026 recruiting cycles, the Blue and White could make up for that, and then some, by convincing Spell to stay home.
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