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Although Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes put in his best effort, and ON3’s RPM showed a 94.6% chance of landing a 6-foot-4, 300-pound prospect from Riverside High School in Taylor, Penn. But those numbers now seem to be fading, as the defensive lineman Tavian Branch announced three official visits despite having verbally committed to Penn State on September 6. While two of those visits are in the B1G and one in the SEC, Branch has made his SEC (Ole Miss) plans clear. On Saturday, Branch posted on X, “Will be taking a visit to Ole Miss. Date coming soon.” With that, Ole Miss became a top contender in landing the standout prospect. Although he didn’t mention a specific date, recruiting services report that his official visits are scheduled for November. This could give Ole Miss a huge opportunity to flip his commitment. With crucial games coming up in the race for a CFP berth, the timing of his trip allows Ole Miss to showcase its recent on-field improvements and player development under DC Pete Golding. And in recruiting, Branch would be a great addition, as both Rivals and On3 list him among the top-10 players for his class in Pennsylvania. Besides, he has already shown his potential. During his junior year at Riverside, Branch recorded 65 tackles and 25 TFLs, putting him on the radar of top programs like Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and more. Now, while Ole Miss coaches have been actively pursuing DLs across the Midwest and Northeast in recent cycles, Branch’s move seems like the cherry on top for them. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad But back in June, Branch originally committed to Rutgers before reopening his recruitment. Then he pledged to PSU, describing it as “where I wanted to be.” And his words after making that decision, “Don’t they say, ‘The best in PA stay in PA?‘” have become a rallying point for PSU’s efforts to keep homegrown DL in-state. On top of that, PSU recruiting analyst Hudson Standish called the 3-star prospect “a high-floor interior defender who could develop into a multi-year starter.” So what led Branch to reopen his recruitment? ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Despite interest from various schools, Branch remained committed to Penn State. And after announcing his PSU commitment, he said, “The environment at Penn State is amazing. They were one of the first to offer, and I just love Coach Franklin, Coach Trautwein, and Coach Barnes.” Now, with Franklin no longer there, it could push the defensive lineman to reconsider. But he’s not the only one. Penn State’s recruiting trail has taken a significant hit this season. Ole Miss’s gain, but Penn State is losing The Nittany Lions suffered a major blow after firing longtime HC James Franklin. Within hours, several top recruits jumped ship. As of Wednesday, PSU has had 3 from the 2027 class decommit. And 4-star RB Kemon Spell, the No. 1 RB in the 2027 class, led the wave of decommitment. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Blue-chip prospects Gabriel Jenkins and Layton von Brandt soon followed him. While they were ESPN Junior 300 standouts, now with WR Khalil Taylor already gone, PSU’s entire 2027 class is in jeopardy. And the 2026 class isn’t safe either. PSU has had 7 recruits from the 2026 class so far. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad And the most recent decommitment came from 3-star DL Alexander Haskell. He has committed to Syracuse. Then, PSU also lost 4-star interior offensive lineman James Halter, as he committed to Notre Dame. Along with them, 2026 WR Lavar Keys pulled his commitment, adding to the Nittany Lions’ growing recruiting woes. Now, while interim HC Terry Smith takes over, AD Patrick Kraft insists it is time for “new leadership.” But for now, the only thing new in Happy Valley is uncertainty.
