Four-star tight end reopens recruitment as Penn State's coaching chaos claims its first casualty
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Penn State’s coaching upheaval just claimed its first high-profile victim. Four-star tight end Pierce Petersohn, one of the centerpieces of the Nittany Lions’ 2026 recruiting class, announced this week that he’s reopening his recruitment. The move exposes just how fragile Penn State’s recruiting foundation has become since firing James Franklin.
Petersohn, a standout from Triton High School in Dodge Center, Minnesota, reaffirmed his appreciation for the program but acknowledged the reality staring him in the face. “I remain committed to Penn State and appreciate everything they’ve done for me,” he wrote on X, “but with some uncertainty around the coaching situation, I’ve decided to reopen my recruitment.”
Why Petersohn’s wavering matters more than just one recruit
Petersohn isn’t just another prospect hedging his bets. He’s the top uncommitted player in Minnesota and ranked No. 14 nationally among tight ends. His combination of size, mobility, and blocking ability made him a perfect fit in the pro-style system Franklin built over 12 years in Happy Valley.
But when Penn State dismissed Franklin on October 12, the staff continuity that drew Petersohn to State College vanished overnight. Now, with no permanent head coach in place and athletic director Pat Kraft still deep in his search, recruits like Petersohn are left waiting for clarity that may not come before signing day.
For Penn State, that delay is devastating. From Pat Freiermuth to Brenton Strange, the Nittany Lions have traditionally developed tight ends into NFL-caliber talent. Petersohn represented the next in that pipeline. Instead, his uncertainty joins a growing list of 2026 recruits reconsidering their futures while Penn State scrambles to rebuild trust.
Minnesota, meanwhile, has reentered the conversation with force. Head coach P.J. Fleck and his staff never stopped recruiting the in-state star and are expected to make an aggressive push in the coming weeks. With home ties, early familiarity, and a stable coaching staff, the Gophers suddenly look like a legitimate threat to flip him.
Every week without a resolution at head coach deepens the risk of losing top-tier talent from a class once ranked among the Big Ten’s best. For now, Petersohn’s statement stops short of a full decommitment — but the message is clear: Until Penn State stabilizes its leadership and rebuilds trust with recruits, even its strongest commitments are just words on paper.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Nov 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos