When James Franklin was let go, Penn State's Class of 2027 recruiting took a major hit. Many early commits, including four-star offensive tackle Layton Von Brandt, quickly backed away from their pledges. But with new head coach Matt Campbell now steering the ship, the recruiting momentum is shifting—and some familiar faces are taking a second look.

Von Brandt, one of Franklin's first 2027 commits, de-committed the very weekend of the coaching change. Now, however, he's narrowed his options to four schools, and Penn State has made the cut. Ranked as the No. 64 overall prospect in the class, Von Brandt would be Campbell's highest-rated signing yet—a huge early win for the new regime.

But the Nittany Lions won't have an easy path. Two of Von Brandt's other finalists are Florida and Notre Dame. The Gators boast former Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, who has already landed elite talent in Gainesville, including the nation's No. 1 offensive lineman, Maxwell Hiller. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has locked up Pennsylvania's top-ranked offensive lineman, James Halter.

Still, Von Brandt's willingness to give Penn State another look is a promising sign for Campbell and Nittany Lions fans alike. If the blue-chip tackle decides to return, it could keep the Class of 2027 rolling and add another highlight to Campbell's impressive start in Happy Valley.