The prospect in question is a familiar, and once-lost, face for Nittany Lions’ fans. A former four-star commit who backed away from the program after the coaching change has now officially scheduled a return trip to Happy Valley. It certainly gave Campbell a crucial opportunity to win back a player his predecessor couldn’t keep.

Four-star prospect Gabe Jenkins has confirmed a visit to Pennsylvania in April. Jenkins knows his way around the program, having been committed to it in the past. But after James Franklin was fired, Jenkins probably lost faith and decommitted. However, it appears he could be considering a return, as it has been confirmed he will make five official visits, followed by one to Matt Campbell’s Penn State.

It shows that Jenkins has reignited his interest in the program after seeing the developments taking place under Campbell. The transfer portal and coaching additions would just be the cherry on top for attracting young talent. However, as aforementioned, Penn State has more than just Virginia Tech and James Franklin to worry about.

Jenkins isn’t just another four-star. His sophomore tape shows why he’s a top-10 player in Pennsylvania. Dominating on both sides of the ball with 1,300 rushing yards and six interceptions, he’s ranked No. 264 nationally, 27th in safety, and 10th in Pennsylvania in the 2027 class. So, it’s no surprise that programs want him on their side.

With the visit confirmed, it is essentially Campbell’s last chance to make an impression on Gabe Jenkins. While that goes on, he focuses on another recruitment battle with James Franklin.

Securing a visit from Jenkins is a key step for Campbell. But it’s just one front in his burgeoning recruiting war with Franklin. The other major battleground is for Peter Bourque, a highly-touted quarterback both coaches have coveted for months.

James Franklin and Matt Campbell are going at it for another 4-star prospect

James Franklin going for Bourque comes as no surprise. The Virginia Tech head coach tried to recruit him while at Penn State, which saw multiple unofficial visits from the quarterback before he committed to Michigan. Franklin went after Bourque after he joined Virginia Tech in December.

At the same time, Campbell also extended his offer to the quarterback after becoming Penn State’s head coach. In late January, Campbell visited Bourque’s high school with offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, quarterbacks coach Jake Waters, and running backs coach Savon Huggins and made his recruiting pitch.

But now Bourque has announced his decommitment from Michigan. This has caused quite a stir in the recruitment landscape. Similar to Gabe Jenkins, both Franklin and Campbell will face tough competition for Bourque. Programs like Ole Miss, Georgia, Oregon, Texas A&M, and North Carolina have already offered him. So, the battle for his commitment spans across conferences.

Bourque, who plays at Tabor Academy in Massachusetts, has impressed many with his dual-threat ability. As a junior, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback threw for 2,241 yards and 18 touchdowns and led his team to a 9-0 record. He completed 63.3 percent of his passes and ran for 688 yards and 15 touchdowns on 80 carries.

Those statistics earned him honors like the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year award and the 2025 NEPSAC Class B Player of the Year.