Penn State football makes cut for potential 5-star 2027 target

There’s still over 17 months left in the 2027 recruiting cycle, but Penn State football is already well on its way to assembling one of the nation’s top classes. A key part of the Nittany Lions’ plans for the class moving forward lies with the Keystone State’s top uncommitted prospect, Coatesville offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller.

Hiller took a critical step in his recruitment on Wednesday, narrowing his list of potential schools to eight. Penn State was among the programs to make the cut, joined by Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Maryland, as well as Clemson out of the ACC. The Pennsylvania lineman’s list is SEC-heavy, with Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee rounding out Hiller’s selections.

Blue chip OL @HillerMaxwell has a top eight, and he explains how he got there https://t.co/EQ6DcDn4Hc pic.twitter.com/6vmcxVMFF6

— BrianDohn247 (@BrianDohn247) July 9, 2025

The in-state Nittany Lions have benefited from having the most face time with Hiller, hosting him 10 times, according to On3. Recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong placed a prediction for James Franklin to earn to Coatesville lineman’s commitment last November.

A consensus four-star, Hiller is the No. 28 prospect in On3’s 2027 recruiting rankings. The rating positions him to earn a fifth star before National Signing Day next December. However, the elevation may come sooner rather than later after standout performances on the summer camp circuit, which also recently helped the 2027 prospect get an invite to the Under Armour All-America Game.

Hiller is the third-highest-rated prospect from Pennsylvania in 2027, trailing closely behind Penn State commits Kemon Spell and Khalil Taylor. A clean sweep of the commonwealth’s top three players would further solidify the Nittany Lions’ current hold on the nation’s top recruiting class.

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