Top 10 QB breaks down commitment to Penn State football

James Franklin and Penn State football landed a significant piece of their 2026 recruiting class on Tuesday morning, earning a commitment from Mission Hills (California) quarterback Troy Huhn. The top 10 arm says that it was the Nittany Lions’ head coach, as well as new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, that prompted him to make his collegiate home across the country in Happy Valley.

In an interview with Rivals National Recruiting Director Adam Gorney, Huhn explained that the entire Penn State football staff made him feel like family.

“Coach Franklin did a great job, and so did the whole entire staff,” Huhn told Gorney. “I felt very welcome when I was there. It felt like home walking in that office. I felt really supported; they all loved me, and I really appreciate the love they showed me. I felt like a priority when I was there, and that means a lot to me.”

Another deciding factor for the Mission Hills quarterback was the instant connection he felt with new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Although he hasn’t experienced a snap as the Nittany Lions playcaller yet, Huhn is already sure of Kotelnicki’s influence on the Penn State offense.

“He’s awesome,” Huhn said. “He’s the heart of the offense, no doubt about it. He’s a great person, [he] has a lot of fun with it, but he’s also a serious person. That’s what you need out of it. He’s definitely the heart of it, and I can’t wait to play for him.”

A consensus four-star, Troy Huhn is On3’s sixth-rated quarterback and No. 60 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. He ranks No. 7 at the position and No. 81 nationally in the site’s Industry Rankings.

Crazy twist leads West Coast quarterback to Penn State football

Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not every day that the Nittany Lions land an elite arm from the Golden Coast. And as it turns out, it wasn’t a normal turn of events that led Troy Huhn to Happy Valley.

On June 2, Texas took an overwhelming lead for Huhn’s commitment in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine. But when the Longhorns landed the No. 2 passer in the 2026 recruiting cycle, Dia Bell, the California quarterback had to reexamine his options.

From there, the West Coast signal caller embarked on a tour of Big Ten country. Huhn took consecutive visits to Ohio State and Penn State. He planned to visit with Michigan, but the Wolverines had just landed Florida quarterback Brady Hart.

“It was all a little crazy,” Huhn said. “When I was at Michigan, I remember going into their office, and they told me they got a commit, so I had to cancel that trip.”

As a result, it came down to a battle between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions, which James Franklin and Andy Kotelnicki ultimately won.

“I’m glad it happened because I found where I wanted to be and found where I wanted to go,” he said. “But it was a little crazy.”

Troy Huhn becomes the second commitment for James Franklin and Penn State football in the 2026 recruiting class, joining four-star Harrisburg running back Messiah Mickens.

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