Penn State picked up a commitment from top-50 receiver recruit Khalil Taylor during the weekend. A prized playmaker out of Pittsburgh Seton La Salle High School, he delivered that pledge Saturday following a visit to Happy Valley.
“The love they show, just walking into the facility with all those people standing around felt amazing,” Taylor told Lions247 after his Thursday trip to campus. “I felt the major love. It was very genuine and pure.”
Penn State managed to land one of Pennsylvania’s prized emerging prospects early in his recruitment process. Taylor will be a junior next season and already carries approximately 20 college scholarship offers. The Nittany Lions extended one way back in November 2023 when he was a freshman.
Considered the No. 2 player in 247Sports’ Class of 2027 Pennsylvania rankings, Taylor is the No. 46 overall talent nationally and listed ninth among “athletes”, though he is a projected receiver for PSU. Last season, he caught 51 passes for 932 yards and totaled 22 touchdowns while earning Century Conference Player of the Year recognition, according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
*** Watch Taylor’s 2024 season highlights above ***
Taylor joins fellow top-100 prospects Kemon Spell (running back) and Layton Von Brandt (offensive tackle) in forming the early foundation for Penn State’s 2027 recruiting class. He and Spell represent a strong start for in-state efforts in that cycle. Collectively, they represent college football’s top-ranked 2027 class, according to 247Sports.
There was more encouraging news for that group during the weekend when Spell shared plans to shut down his recruitment to interested programs beyond Penn State. Spell made his own trip to State College in recent days and came away feeling renewed confident in a commitment that spans back to August 2024.
“My talk with Coach Franklin was awesome, man,” Spell told Lions247 regarding his decision to lock in this weekend. “He sat down with me and my parents and talked about the love that he has for me and my family and how I will be treated — just like his kids. My relationship with (running backs coach Stan) Drayton has gotten stronger and stronger. The more we talk, the more we go over things, I see something special in his eyes and I want him coaching me.”
Circling back to Taylor, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect also referenced his relationship with a Penn State position coach. Marques Hagans made an impact in that pursuit as he attempts to assemble a room on the rise after recent receiver production struggles.
“We’re always chatting it up, making sure I’m good and just staying updated in what I have going on,” Taylor said. “He’s a very straightforward coach and he gets to the point. No sugarcoating.”
Penn State signed four receivers in its 2025 recruiting class, welcoming three of them ahead of spring practice. The Nittany Lions currently carry two pledges at that position in the 2026 class.
