Penn State and James Franklin have come off one win shy of playing for a national title in a medley 13-3 season. They were on the verge of a historic season, so it’s understandable that they are refueling to complete the task next fall. The veteran head coach can aim for a playoff run entering his 12th season in Happy Valley with a marquee receiver room in the class of 2025 and the new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who has done wonderx under Ryan Day’s top-tier defense and grabbed a Natty to cap off his tenure at Columbus. Can he swing the same way and be higher with the Lions? Well, that seems a little far-fetched, especially considering Franklin’s big-game misery.

But not just that, Penn State has another pivotal reason to go a bit slow on their championship hope. I mean, just sneak a look at the 2025 recruiting and committing class.

Penn State recruiting misses out on that sting

Franklin’s 2015 recruiting class was ranked No. 14 by both Lions247 and On3. They have signed over 27 players, many of whom have already started gearing up to practice with the Lions. They flaunt a lot of strength at the tight end, linebacker and receiver. New Jersey lineman Malachi Goodman has been one of the most head-turning recruits at Happy Valley, standing tall as the nation’s overall 56 prospects and No. 9 offensive tackle.

Southern Lehigh’s Andrew Olesh has been the second highest as NO 63 overall and No.4 nationally at the tight end position. Also, Daryus Dixson, from Mater Dei, California, is widely expected to be instrumental in the Lions’ CB room going forward. However, it’s noteworthy that none of the top players have yet secured a five-star rating.

Another three-star prospect and New York native, Lyrick Samuel, has graced the wide receiver room, one of the most coveted in Franklin’s 2025 depth chart. Director of Player Personnel Kenny Sanders sees great potential in the 6-foot-4 pass catcher, despite his unfinished product. However, you can’t rate Franklin’s recruiting strategy highly as it showcases some massive loopholes that subsequently trigger the five-star scarce. It seems the school has missed out on the key recruits from the region to top schools across the country at vital positions, including quarterback and defensive tackle.

But what is the meat behind it? Well, it’s of no debate that Penn State had performed poorly in the big game. They came across Ohio State at home earlier in the season and gave it up with a 13-20 home loss. Thanks to a total loss of offensive clutch. They got into the B1G championship and fell flat against the Oregon Ducks in a similar fashion. Last but not least, the Lions found themselves astray in the historic college football semifinal with a 27-24 loss against the Irish.

Did this major ambiguity actually affect their 2025 class? Or is it James Franklin’s regressive philosophy that served as the real deterrent?

James Franklin is tough on giving second chances to double-minded recruits

Results matter. Winning on the field against elite teams can really make a strong impact in the aggressive pursuit to gain an edge in the recruiting battles of the top tier five stars. But this is not just it. James Franklin isn’t very open to letting anybody in. No, it doesn’t imply that he’s a lackluster recruiter who lacks basic effort. Not at all. It’s just that Franklin knows what a series of benefits and advantages the program has to offer and wants to make sure they get full-fledged loyalty in return.

In a past interview, the veteran Penn State coach said he possesses a unique mindset when considering whether to continue recruiting players who didn’t pick Penn State the first time.

“To me, it’s, were we legitimately in it? Is the kid receptive? Is the kid open, and do you feel like you’ve got a legitimate chance to get him before Signing Day?” Franklin said. “We’re not a negative recruiting team. We’re not a team that’s going to go after other people’s recruits just to go after other people’s recruits. It’s about a guy we’ve had a ton of time invested in, and they still want to be recruited, and we feel like we’ve got a shot.”

In this growing era of NIL volatility, Franklin isn’t wrong to filter his recruits in the first place, but in a domino effect, it can make him lose grip on some quality additions whatsoever.