How Terry Smith Is Rebuilding Penn State's 2027 Recruiting Class

Penn State coach Matt Campbell called retaining Terry Smith one of his first-page priorities upon taking the job. The refreshed 2027 recruiting class is one reason.

Penn State on Wednesday received its third commitment in as many days, as 3-star cornerback Ka'ron Ceaser announced his decision. Ceaser is the third player in the Nittany Lions' 2027 class and also the third cornerback.

The connection? Smith, Penn State's interim head coach for the second half of 2025, is the program's cornerbacks coach again. All three 2027 commits were recruited primarily by Smith.

"The fact that Terry wants to stay and be a part of this, I couldn't be more grateful," Campbell said in December. "I really mean it. To work hand in hand with him, and knowing what it means to play here, knowing what it means to coach here, and knowing what it means to lead here, that's huge for me."

I want to thank every school and every coach who recruited me and believed in me throughout this process. I’m very grateful for every opportunity. With that said, I’m blessed to announce my commitment to Penn State University @chillbelton @winslowtwpfb pic.twitter.com/DpSlHo4e6M
— Ka’ron ceaser (@YkRonnnn) April 1, 2026

Ceaser joined fellow cornerbacks Zachary Gleason and Semajay Robinson in Penn State's 2027 class, which faced a reset last fall. At one point, Penn State's four-player class was ranked No. 1 nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Bu all four players decommitted following James Franklin's October firing, including 5-star running back Kemon Spell, who later committed to Georgia. Campbell prioritized roster reconstruction and compiling a 2026 recruiting class before moving to 2027, a class to which Smith has been integral so far.

Smith made visits to Florida for Robinson, to Pittsburgh for Gleason and to New Jersey for Ceaser. A rising senior, Ceaser plays at Winslow Township High, where he is coached by former Nittany Lions running back Bill Belton.

Ceaser is among the top-25 players in New Jersey and the 57th-ranked athlete nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. The 5-11, 170-pound senior is expected to play cornerback at Penn State.

Ceaser chose Penn State from an offer sheet that included Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Duke, Maryland, Pitt, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. Nittany Lions running backs coach Savon Huggins also was part of Ceaser's recruiting team. Ceaser has an official visit to Penn State scheduled in June.

Penn state official visit set @chillbelton @winslowtwpfb @BrianDohn247 @ChadSimmons_ @adamgorney @TheUCReport @tomloy247 @On3Richie pic.twitter.com/kKlb2I0ecc
— Ka’ron ceaser (@YkRonnnn) February 28, 2026

Smith, the defensive recruiting coordinator under Franklin, has taken a larger recruiting role early as the Nittany Lions' new staff gets acclimated to the region. Smith was essential to Penn State's retention strategy after returning to his role as associate head coach yet also maintained some of the recruiting benefits of his interim position.

"I think the big advantage now on the road is, more players and staff know who I am," Smith said. "If I'm in the south, which is SEC territory, I walk in the door, they recognize me now. Even other coaches from other universities, the conversations are just a little bit different.

"Obviously, being a head coach, there's so much attention on that position, but it's been great. It allows me to give a different experience level and communicate a different way to the prospects now, because I truly know what that seat feels like, what can and can't be done, and how we can help their experience if they choose Penn State."

Smith led Penn State to a 4-3 finish to the 2025 season, including a 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. After that game at Yankee Stadium, Smith said it was "the greatest moment of my life."

"I think a lot of guys appreciate my passion for the game, my love for football, my throwback mentality," Smith said of recruiting now. "And it's a genuine and pure approach to the game in a time where our game is running away from us. We have NIL and the transfer portal and all these other things going on that are a part of the game. A lot of players, coaches, administrators, are losing the love of the game, and they're making it a true business. And you know, a lot of coaches just appreciate my approach and style for the game."

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