Penn State Suffers an Unexpected Setback to Non-Power Conference College as James Franklin Gets Taste of His Own Medicine

Ain’t no tale better than a karma tale. And right now, James Franklin is living in one. Penn State’s head honcho, the man with the million-dollar contract and the offseason power moves, just got hit with a dose of poetic justice. Just a week after prying defensive mastermind Jim Knowles from Ohio State, Franklin is watching his own guy pack up and head out—but not for a bigger gig, not for the SEC, not even for a Power Five program. Nope. One of Penn State’s top recruiters is taking his talents to AAC.

Penn State Football’s Recruiting Coordinator for Personnel and Recruitment, Khalil Ahmad, is leaving Happy Valley to join KC Keeler’s staff with the Owls. Now, on paper, this might not seem like a gut punch. After all, Temple ain’t exactly a national power. But here’s the thing: Ahmad was one of Franklin’s key recruiters, a man with deep ties across the Mid-Atlantic who helped Penn State land some serious talent. He had a hand in bringing in guys like Malachi Goodman, Jahmir Joseph, and Braswell Thomas. This ain’t just some random staffer bouncing for a new job—this is a key chess piece getting swiped off the board.

And oh, the irony. Just last month, Franklin flexed his financial muscles and lured Jim Knowles away from Ohio State with a record-breaking $3.1 million-a-year contract. Knowles was fresh off building an all-time great defense, which allowed only 12.9 points per game that led the Buckeyes to a national title. He was supposed to be Ryan Day’s golden ticket, the defensive savant who could’ve finally shut Michigan next season. Instead, Franklin and Penn State said, ‘Nah, we’ll take him,’ and cut the check. Now? Franklin’s gotta watch a key piece of his own empire get plucked away.

Ahmad’s departure stings for a few reasons. First, his recruiting reach was massive. This guy earned a spot on Rivals.com’s ‘B1G Up Next’ list, which highlights the top up-and-coming recruiters in the Big Ten. He didn’t just help Penn State land players—he had a knack for building real relationships across high school coaching circles. Second, his resume speaks for itself. The man’s been everywhere—Rutgers, Syracuse, high school coaching stops in New Jersey—so losing him to Temple isn’t just about this one move. It’s about the potential ripple effects in recruiting battles down the line.

James Franklin and Penn State eye a huge 2025 season after off-season moves

Of course, Franklin isn’t about to let this loss ruin his master plan. Penn State’s still rolling on the recruiting trail, and if there’s one thing Franklin does really well, it’s locking down in-state talent. Case in point: in December, he flipped four-star tight end Andrew Olesh from Michigan. The kid’s the No. 3 ranked TE in the nation and the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania. That’s a big-time win, especially when you consider the names Franklin has kept home over the years—Saquon Barkley, Micah Parsons, Cooper Cousins. The blueprint is still working.

And let’s be real: 2025 is the season for Franklin. Penn State just wrapped up a 13-3 campaign, came this close to the national championship game, and is bringing back a loaded roster. Quarterback Drew Allar is back. Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton? Back. Knowles’ defense? Getting ready to cook. This team should be in the title conversation again. But here’s the problem—James Franklin ain’t cashing them fat checks just to have good seasons. He’s getting paid to bring home Nattys.

That’s the crocodile in the room. Franklin is 1-15 against AP top-five teams. One and fifteen. That ain’t just bad—it’s unacceptable for a program with championship expectations. They wanna see that trophy in Happy Valley. And with games against Ohio State, Oregon, and a rising Indiana squad on the schedule, this season is make-or-break.

Penn State kicks off its 2025 campaign against Nevada on August 30th. The roster’s stacked. The expectations are sky-high. But if Franklin doesn’t deliver, that seat’s gonna start feeling real hot, real fast. Losing a recruiter to Temple? That’s just a small taste. It’s gonna be one long season for Penn State.