It’s not winter yet, but Penn State fans can feel the shivers. Within 24 hours of 4-star WR Khalil Taylor walking back on his commitment, James Franklin’s program dived deep into massive trouble. The Nittany Lions’ hearts burn as Taylor’s exit leaves a gaping hole. And now, a five-star player will reportedly row the same boat. For James Franklin, it’s not the end of his nightmare. It’s just the beginning.

That’s none other than five-star RB commit Kemon Spell. On October 10, Daily Collegian writer Chase Fisher dropped a clip of Franklin’s commits interview. Apparently, everything sounded positive with the McKeesport High School star talking about his latest feat against Mars, scoring six touchdowns. “Oh, it felt good. You know, they were coming in number one in the 4A, so you know,” said Spell. But as the conversation continued, a ticking time bomb awaited Franklin and co.

“When it was Week 0, 100% so far, going right here, 100%, I scored 6 touchdowns. Every time I’m 100%, I’m going to end on at least 6 times,” continued Spell. Drawing from the conversation, the host asked whether he is 100% committed to Franklin’s Penn State. Spell then brought the cat out of the bag when the reporter asked him, “Now I am gonna ask you the bad question. Are you still 100% Penn State?” claiming, “That’s a good question. No, I’m not. I’m not 100% Penn State anymore. I’m going to be taking visits and everything else, so we’ll see from there.”

His commitment to the Nittany Lions began in August 2024. This situation is a huge speed bump for Franklin on the recruiting track. Spell is the country’s No. 1 running back recruit by 247sports. Who will stand a chance of bringing home Franklin’s former recruit? Notre Dame could be the most prominent threat. That’s because of Spell’s longstanding relationship with position coach Ja’Juan Seider, who went to Notre Dame from Penn State. The others on the running backs’ list?

The western Pennsylvania standout now considers trips to Florida State, Alabama, and Michigan. Franklin might have gotten enough hints of losing his running back when he was present in Ohio State’s win over Texas. “I’m the No. 1 running back in the country. So, I want to explore my options. God gave me this gift to go take it. So, that’s what I’ve been doing. Just leaving my options open is a good thing for my recruiting process to see where I best fit,” said Spell. Not a good time for Franklin to witness dual heartbreaks.

James Franklin loses crucial piece in recruiting shuffle

In March, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound wideout, Khalil Taylor, had committed to the Nittany Lions. But seven months later, on Friday, October 10, he told Rivals he had decommitted. Indeed, a costly loss for Franklin. Rivals rates him as a four-star prospect and ranks him 11th among junior wide receivers nationally. Taylor made 51 catches for 932 yards and scored 22 touchdowns last season at Seton LaSalle.

He earned first-team all-conference honors for the second year before transferring schools. The Pine-Richland star has a team-high 12 touchdowns this season. Looks like, coming out of James Franklin’s squad, he has his plan ready. “I want to visit other schools and see different atmospheres and environments and things like that. Just to build bonds with other coaches, stuff like that,” Taylor said when asked what’s next in his recruitment.

He has already planned his Indiana, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Florida State, and Nebraska. But looks like Franklin and the Nittany Lions should not give up on all their hopes. As Taylor assured, “I’ll still be in contact with them. I’m not knocking them off the board or nothing. I love everything about them and just want to experience different things and am not trying to go behind their back and be disloyal to them.”

A college football analyst devised a fresh serving of fear as if all the decommitment woes on James Franklin’s plate were insufficient. On the 680 The Fan podcast, Nicke Cellini named a college football head coach as Franklin’s replacement. “He’s a Pittsburgh guy. He’s got that swagger, that Pennsylvania swagger. I don’t know what his buyout is, but I would think that the Penn State crowd would love a guy from the state of Pennsylvania who wins in Curt Cignetti,” said Cellini.

Will Franklin crack under the heat this season and open the door for Curt Cignetti?