Penn State Football Rebuilds 2026 Class After Mass Exodus, Lands Former Iowa State Commits Under Matt Campbell
The Penn State football program experienced a dramatic recruiting cycle following the October firing of head coach James Franklin, who subsequently took over at Virginia Tech and flipped multiple Nittany Lion commits. However, new head coach Matt Campbell, hired from Iowa State, has successfully rebuilt the 2026 recruiting class through a combination of transfer additions and flipping prospects who had previously committed to his former program.
## The Mass Exodus Under Franklin’s Departure
When Franklin was fired on Oct. 30, Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class—once ranked among the nation’s best—imploded. By the early signing period in December, the Nittany Lions had plummeted to No. 150 nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings, trailing programs like South Dakota State, McNeese, and UAB. The class ranked dead last in the Big Ten.
Eleven pledges ultimately flipped to Virginia Tech to join Franklin. Among the most notable losses were four-star linebacker Terry Wiggins and four-star safety Matt Sieg, the latter ranked as the No. 104 overall recruit nationally and the No. 3 prospect in Pennsylvania. Sieg had been committed to Penn State for over a year but began exploring options after Franklin’s dismissal.
“I love Penn State,” Sieg told Lions247 upon his initial commitment. “The staff always makes me feel at home and it’s a great place”. However, with no head coach in place entering the early signing period, West Virginia ultimately flipped the blue-chip safety.
## The Campbell Era: Flipping Former Iowa State Commits
With the class in shambles, Campbell went to work. His strategy centered on bringing familiar faces from Iowa State while flipping prospects who had been committed to him with the Cyclones.
By national signing day in February, Penn State’s class had climbed to No. 41 nationally and No. 10 in the Big Ten, with 15 high school recruits and 40 transfers joining the program. Among the key flips:
– **Elijah Reeder** (Edge Rusher, Bayville, N.J.): A four-star prospect originally committed to Campbell at Iowa State, Reeder flipped to Penn State and is ranked as the No. 4 prospect in New Jersey.
– **Pete Eglitis** (Offensive Lineman, Columbus, Ohio): A three-star prospect who flipped from Iowa State after helping lead Bishop Watterson High to back-to-back state championships.
– **Keian Kaiser** (Linebacker, Sidney, Neb.): A three-star multisport athlete who flipped from Iowa State after recording 127 tackles as a junior.
– **Lucas Tenbrock** (Punter, St. Charles, Ill.): Ranked as the No. 6 punter nationally, Tenbrock’s only FBS offer came from Campbell at Iowa State before flipping to Penn State.
– **Kase Evans** (Quarterback, Lexington, Texas): A three-star quarterback who was previously committed to Campbell at Iowa State, Evans racked up more than 11,000 passing yards and 120 touchdowns in his high school career.
Campbell also flipped wide receiver Ben Whitver from James Madison University after a coaching departure with the Dukes opened the door. Whitver, who enrolled in January, called Penn State his “dream school”.
## The Transfer Portal Component
To stabilize the roster after losing 47 players to the portal following a 7-6 season, Campbell added 40 transfers—24 of whom followed him from Iowa State. Key additions include quarterback Rocco Becht (3,000+ passing yards in back-to-back seasons), tight end Benjamin Brahmer (37 catches, 6 touchdowns), and running back Carson Hansen.
## What Flipping Players Are Saying
For those who flipped to Penn State, Campbell’s stability and the program’s tradition proved decisive. Whitver captured the sentiment: “To be honest, I’ve always loved Penn State. It’s always been a dream school for me. It feels like home and I’m excited”.
