Notre Dame gets major opening as top RB backs off Penn State pledge

Irish running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider could deliver a massive recruiting win
MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It's been a long road, but the Notre Dame football team might finally be poised to steal running back Kemon Spell from Penn State.

The Irish have been going hard after the top running back in the 2027 class ever since running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider joined the staff after spending the last few years with Penn State. Seider and Spell have long had a good relationship, and while the running back initially doubled down on his commitment to the Nittany Lions, it appears Seider and Co. have kept chipping away.

Notre Dame football positioned to flip top running back target Kemon Spell from Penn State

On Friday night, the Notre Dame target announced he was no longer "100% committed to Penn State" and has a few visits planned. One of those visits will be to South Bend when the Irish take on USC next week.

Spell has missed some time this season with injury, but he's played the last three weeks and has looked as good as advertised. However, after Friday night's game, it was the bomb he dropped after being asked if he was still solid to Penn State that got all of the attention.

That’s a good question. No, I’m not 100% on Penn State anymore," Spell said. "I will be taking visits and everything else, so we’ll see from there."

While that announcement might have seemed shocking to some, it's worth pointing out it was the first question asked of Kemon Spell after the game. Clearly, there had been some rumblings that he might be wavering. Now Notre Dame needs to take advantage and reel him in, once and for all.

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