It is safe to say that the Nittany Lions‘ 2025 signing day did not go to plan. What was once going to be a celebratory day with James Franklin still at the helm, welcoming in some of the best recruits, turned into an unmitigated disaster. James Franklin has long since gone, and so too are several former members of Penn State’s recruiting class, now mostly at Virginia Tech. While it’s easy to assume that James Franklin’s pull got Penn State into the hole, the lack of a head coach amidst a desperate search certainly adds to the drama.
After all, before national signing day even began, Penn State was said to be in discussions with BYU head coach Kalani Sitake for the job. However, like countless times before, at the final hour, Sitake decided to extend his contract after several key boosters voiced their outrage over a potential move. No one knows if this move had gone through, it would have affected the class in any way. In fact, there were countless flips even before National Signing Day occurred. Still, after a wild couple of months, the fact that no coach has taken their talents to Happy Valley speaks volumes about Penn State’s struggles this recruiting cycle.
Advertisement
It’s not as if Penn State was completely inept in its recruitment efforts. They were able to get three-star quarterback Peyton Falzone after he had originally decommitted in June, and were able to sign four-star edge Jackson Ford. Still, in that same span, they lost four-star safety Matt Sieg, four-star linebacker Terry Wiggins, and three-star corner Amauri Polydor to James Franklin and Virginia Tech (except Sieg, who shockingly flipped to West Virginia). The group of losses expands even more when you consider the countless flips and early signings as well. A prime example is that of Troy Huhn, the four-star quarterback who had decommitted mere days after Franklin’s firing, yet still had his choices between Virginia Tech and Penn State. Ultimately, he chose to remain loyal to Franklin, committing to Virginia Tech a day before signing day.
With all the decommitments, it’s easy to question how much of the head coaching search has served as equal parts distraction and deterrence for young recruits. The lack of stability that Franklin had provided simply was nowhere to be found, and has left Penn State in a major rut on the recruiting trail as a result.
If there is any saving grace, however, it is the consistent backing of Terry Smith and the continuation of a dynamic culture he has brought to the interim role. With veterans calling for the program to lift the interim tag, even with a diminished class, there is hope that Smith can further uplift the program in a difficult time. For now, the athletic department is left to mull over the collapse of a class defined by Franklin’s absence.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State’s Signing Day turns to disaster amidst coaching search
