Now that James Franklin is out at Penn State, it's time for Notre Dame football to swoop in and sift through the rubble for the treasure that the former Penn State head coach left behind. That includes 5-star running back recruit Kemon Spell.
Not long after the Nittany Lions fired Franklin, Spell made what he'd been hinting about on Friday official. He's no longer committed to PSU. As it happens, the Fighting Irish will get the first shot at landing the best running back in the 2027 class.
James Franklin’s firing gives Notre Dame first crack at elite 2027 running back Kemon Spell
Spell announced after scoring six touchdowns on Friday night that he was no longer "100% committed" to Penn State. Not long after that, analysts reported that Spell is slated to visit Notre Dame for its game against USC. Now that Franklin is fired, the Irish get the first shot at making their in-person pitch.
The first shot doesn't necessarily mean the Irish will close the deal on Saturday. There are plenty of other big programs trying their best to land Kemon Spell. He said before the start of the 2025 season that, though he was committed to Penn State, he would continue to look at other colleges and take recruiting visits.
Spell received an offer from Georgia last week, and there are more than a few rumblings that the offer might have been the catalyst for his wavering on his commitment. Franklin's firing was the last shovel of dirt on the grave.
The fight for the 2027 prospect is likely to last a while. Notre Dame football absolutely has a foot in the door. Especially with the man who initially landed him at Penn State, running backs coach Ja'Jaun Seider is now at the same position with the Fighting Irish.