Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes put in his best effort, and ON3’s RPM, too, showed a 94.6% chance of landing Tavian Branch, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound prospect from Riverside High School in Taylor, Penn. But those numbers started fading when he announced three official visits despite having verbally committed to Penn State on September 6. And now, the defensive lineman has yet another update to offer to schools in pursuit.

On Saturday, Branch posted on X, “Will be taking a visit to Ole Miss. Date coming soon.” And then, he shared another update: “Won’t be taking a visit to Maryland or Nebraska.”

This latest announcement marks another turn in what has been a fluid recruitment process for the Riverside (Pa.) standout. Just weeks ago, Branch had reopened his recruitment following the firing of head coach James Franklin, saying at the time that he wanted to “talk to [his] family and think things through” before making any firm decisions. That move prompted a wave of interest from major programs, including Ole Miss, Maryland, and Nebraska, all eager to get the lineman on campus before the early signing period in December. The visits were all lined up accordingly, too. 

As per reports earlier, he would have been visiting Maryland on November 1, Ole Miss on November 15, and Nebraska on November 29. But with Ole Miss pushing the right buttons, Branch’s recruitment picture has narrowed again.

Lane Kiffin’s Rebels have been aggressively targeting northern defensive prospects, and Branch fits the mold of what defensive coordinator Pete Golding looks for: size, power, and mobility across multiple gaps. Rivals and On3 list him among the top-10 players for his class in Pennsylvania. Besides, he has already shown his potential. During his junior year at Riverside, Branch recorded 65 tackles and 25 TFLs, putting him on the radar of top programs like Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and more.

Given that Ole Miss coaches have been actively pursuing DLs across the Midwest and Northeast in recent cycles, they extended their offer soon after Franklin’s dismissal. The connection between Branch and the Ole Miss staff has since strengthened. The upcoming visit, which was earlier on the same day as their game against the Florida Gators, would have given him a chance to soak in the energy of a game day at Oxford. Plus, the visit would also have helped the Ole Miss staff to pitch stability and player development in contrast to Penn State’s ongoing transition.

The next few weeks will likely determine how this recruitment ends,  whether Branch sticks with his early pledge to Penn State or decides to start fresh in the SEC under Kiffin’s system. But he’s not the only one flipping. Penn State’s recruiting trail has taken a significant hit this season.

Ole Miss’s gain, but Penn State is losing

The Nittany Lions suffered a major blow after firing longtime HC James Franklin. Within hours, several top recruits jumped ship. As of Wednesday, PSU has had 3 from the 2027 class decommit. And 4-star RB Kemon Spell, the No. 1 RB in the 2027 class, led the wave of decommitment.

Blue-chip prospects Gabriel Jenkins and Layton von Brandt soon followed him. While they were ESPN Junior 300 standouts, now with WR Khalil Taylor already gone, PSU’s entire 2027 class is in jeopardy. And the 2026 class isn’t safe either. PSU has had 7 recruits from the 2026 class so far.

And the most recent decommitment came from 3-star DL Alexander Haskell. He has committed to Syracuse. Then, PSU also lost 4-star interior offensive lineman James Halter, as he committed to Notre Dame. Along with them, 2026 WR Lavar Keys pulled his commitment, adding to the Nittany Lions’ growing recruiting woes.

Now, while interim HC Terry Smith takes over, AD Patrick Kraft insists it is time for “new leadership.” But for now, the only thing new in Happy Valley is uncertainty.