2025 RB commit: SEC foe still has a chance despite doubling down on Penn State football pledge

The 2025 recruiting class for Penn State football has seen some significant growth recently. For several months Nittany Lions held just one hard running back commit in the cycle, from Arkansas three-star Kiandrea Barker. Now, the class has grown to 21 verbal commitments by early July.

However, just weeks after shutting down his commitment, Barker is evidently still keeping his options open, according to a high school sports insider.

Kiandrea Barker recently was interviewed with SBLive, which was documented by Nate Olson of High School Sports Illustrated. He discussed his bizarre battle of being ruled ineligible in 2023 and his commitment decision.

Barker, a consensus three-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, made his pledge to Penn State football on April 16, 2023. Originally from Arkansas, Barker took his talents to The Woodlands High School in Texas for the 2023 season.

But within his interview with SBLive, he explained why he returned to Arkansas for his senior season.

“When I transferred, I didn’t tell anybody yet and I posted that I had transferred and they used an image of me in a Beebe jersey,” Barker explained to Blue White Illustrated last December. “The head coach at my old school didn’t like that. He wanted me to stay and he was mad that I left. He still wanted me to play for him. I get it, but he had to sign me off. He put that when I transferred that I went for athletic purposes which got the UIL [University Interscholastic League] involved.

“In Texas, they don’t play. The UIL is big about recruiting players when you’re not a private school. So that got them involved and I had to miss my whole season.”

Barker then considered a move to Miami Central to team up with fellow Penn State football commit Bekkem Kritza, but decided against the move following the situation in Texas.

Instead, Barker will play for Newport High School in Arkansas, Olson confirmed.

Is Barker still “110%” locked in to Penn State football?

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Kiandrea Barker made it clear on June 6 that he was 110% locked in with Penn State football. He shared on Twitter/X that he was shutting down his recruitment, writing:

“I want to thank all of the coaches who have recruited me along this process, and all the Penn State coaches/staff that’s been showing me love since day one, with that said I want to officially announce that all recruitment is shutdown for me and I’m all in 110%.”

I want to thank all the coaches who have recruited me along this process , and all the penn state coaches/ staff that’s been showing love since day with that being said I want to officially announce that all recruitment is shut down for me and I’m all in 110% #weare🦁 pic.twitter.com/23Ha83TNKb

— Kiandrea Barker (@KiandreaBarker) June 6, 2024

However, according to Olson, Barker is still entertaining the option of playing for Arkansas.

“I’m keeping Arkansas in the back of my head. They still have a chance,” Barker said on Sunday.

Overall, the Nittany Lions have gone through the wringer for running back recruits in the 2025 recruiting class.

It started with the addition of Alvin Henderson from Alabama. Joining the class in April, Henderson was a short-lived commitment, flipping his pick to Auburn last month.

The Nittany Lions did secure an additional running back commitment from Imhotep’s Jabree Wallace-Coleman in June to replace Henderson.

Now, it appears that Penn State may still be in a battle for Kiandrea Barker, something that On3’s Steve Wiltfong mentioned in June. As the running back carousel continues to spin, Barker is a commitment to keep an eye on over the next few months.

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