Recent Penn State football commit named No. 1 RB in 2027 cycle

There’s one thing that has remained true about Penn State football running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider during his tenure in Happy Valley. That is Seider has an eye for talent evaluation. Most recently he has put those efforts into the 2027 recruiting class, securing a commitment from Kemon Spell. On Monday, the future Nittany Lion received his initial ranking from On3 and is regarded as the No. 1 RB in his class.

Kemon Spell surprised the Penn State football community on August 2 when he made his commitment official. Spell left a heartwarming message after making his pledge on social media.

“I [want to thank] the coaches and the staff for giving me this opportunity,” Spell wrote in his commitment announcement. [I] won’t disappoint.”

On August 15 he received his initial ranking from 247Sports. The outlet ranked Spell as a four-star prospect. He ranks as the No. 59 overall recruit nationally and the No. 4 running back in the 2027 recruiting class. Then, on Monday On3 provided their initial ranking on the McKeesport running back.

On3 has listed Spell as the No. 1 RB in the 2027 cycle. He also ranks as the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania and No. 12 player nationally. It’s clear that the Nittany Lions have secured an early commitment from one of the nation’s best.

McKeesport’s Kemon Spell (Penn State recruit) now a top 10 recruit in the nation and the No. 1 running back nationally in the 2027 class per On3. ‼️ 🏈🔥 pic.twitter.com/zsuBQojCjy

— Brad Everett (@BREAL412) August 19, 2024

Nittany Lions lose a running back in 2025

Syndication: York Daily Record

While there has been plenty of positive momentum on the recruiting trail for the Nittany Lions, they have recently suffered a setback. The 2025 recruiting class featured three running backs. Jabree Wallace Coleman, Tiqwai Hayes, and Kiandrea Barker.

However, on August 13 Barker announced his intentions to decommit from the Penn State football team. He shared the following statement on social media.

“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.”

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