As Penn State fans have seen throughout the 2025 cycle, just because a player commits to a program doesn’t mean they are fully locked in. The Nittany Lions have been the victims of players decommitting, while also benefiting from flipping their own targets and getting them involved in the class.
That was on display when four-star linebacker Cam Smith flipped from Duke to Penn State, and when safety Antonio Branch decided to flip to Colorado following his official visit last weekend.
Until a player officially signs his letter of intent, there is nothing that is binding them into their verbal commitment.
Knowing that, James Franklin and his staff are still working on some of their top targets they weren’t able to land the first time around. There are plenty of candidates who are seen as players Penn State could get on board, but it certainly won’t be easy.
One prospect they still are firmly pursuing is current Alabama commit Michael Carroll.
The offensive lineman is rated as a five-star by On3, and comes in as the No. 37 overall player in the class per their Industry Ranking. As one of the best recruits in the state of Pennsylvania, it was a tough pill to swallow when he picked the Crimson Tide.
However, Carroll was recently on the campus of Miami this past weekend, potentially signaling he might be weighing some other options.
According to Chad Simmons of On3, the coveted lineman is feeling “even better and even stronger” about his current commitment to Alabama after that visit, but he did mention that Penn State continues to recruit him and never stopped when he first announced his decision. It will still be an uphill battle for the Nittany Lions, though, with Carroll stating he was told there is a plan for him to play early with the Crimson Tide (subscription required).
Still, this will be something to monitor during the next few months as Penn State clearly still wants to have him join this 2025 class.