Penn State and head coach James Franklin are making significant moves in preparation for the 2025 season. Following a tough playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame, Penn State appears to be leaving no stone unturned in building a stronger roster. Among the notable additions are Jim Knowles, who joins from Ohio State, wide receiver Devante Ross from Troy, and a 2025 recruiting class ranked 4th in the Big Ten.
However, Franklin isn’t only focused on 2025. He’s also laying the groundwork for the future, with a solid group of prospects already committed for the 2026 season. That group includes Kevin Brown, ranked as the fourth-best interior offensive lineman in the nation, along with running back Messiah Mickens, ranked 13th nationally, and four-star quarterback Troy Huhn. Despite these recruiting successes, Penn State has suffered a setback with the loss of a key wide receiver commitment — Jerquaden Guilford.
Guilford, a three-star recruit in the 2026 class, stands at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, giving him the physical traits to be a tough, imposing receiver. He recently announced his decision to decommit, explaining that he wants to thoroughly evaluate all options to ensure the school he chooses aligns with his and his family’s values. With the evolving recruiting landscape, including revenue sharing and NIL deals, players are increasingly keeping their options open.
Losing Guilford is a blow for Penn State, particularly given the current state of the receiver room. A recruiting analyst noted that Penn State will still have a chance to regain Guilford’s commitment, but his potential makes the loss sting. While Guilford may not have been a player expected to make an immediate impact as a freshman, his size and physicality could have filled a long-standing need in Penn State’s receiving corps.
That need is especially urgent heading into 2025, as Penn State has already lost several receivers — Trey Wallace, Omari Evans, Mehki Flowers, and Tyler Johnson — as well as tight end Tyler Warren, who was the team’s top receiver in 2024 and is now heading to the NFL. Losing Guilford only adds to the challenges for Franklin and his staff.
For the 2026 class, Penn State currently has two other wide receiver commits — three-star recruits Jahsiear Rogers and Lavar Keys. However, for 2025, the team will rely on a mostly inexperienced group that includes Anthony Ivery, Luke Reynolds, and Tyseer Denmark, none of whom have significant game experience.
Beyond the receiver room, Penn State also faces uncertainty at quarterback. Drew Allar will return in 2025 after putting off NFL ambitions for another year, but his development has been inconsistent. Part of that is due to Penn State’s heavy reliance on the running game, but Allar’s own decision-making has also been called into question.
A national analyst noted that Allar’s success in 2025 will depend heavily on whether Penn State can add quality receivers through the spring transfer portal. Without better options at wide receiver, Allar’s NFL hopes could be in jeopardy. For now, both Allar and Penn State’s offense face an uphill climb, with the development of the receiving corps potentially making or breaking the upcoming season.