Penn State Nittany Lions athletic director Pat Kraft is under the pump as he searches for James Franklin’s replacement. The Nittany Lions fired Franklin after a poor start to the season that saw the program go from 3-0 to 3-3.
Amid the coaching search, a leaked audio has surfaced on X, where Kraft is allegedly talking about his current situation. Kraft seems to be lamenting about the fact that recruits generally don’t want to come to Penn State unless notable programs such as Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan don’t really want them. He literally said that it’s because of the location that no one wants to come to Penn State.
“Why do a lot of people decommit? Because you’re telling me that I’m getting recruited by Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan — places that are big and have things around them — and then I have to come here and be in the middle of nowhere, far away from anything,” Kraft said. “Yeah, there’s only this… just being here. So that’s real, and that’s the biggest reason why people don’t come here.
I’ve asked recruits — because I’m hosting recruits and stuff — why they want to come here. And that’s the reason. I’m so glad you brought that up, because that’s the question we’re asking, and we probably need to f*cking change the way we recruit. ’Cause Alabama ain’t about shit. Oregon — have you all been to Oregon? Ain’t shit going on. It’s a bunch of f*cking weirdos, just… dude.”
The leaked audio suggests that Kraft is finding it difficult to attract recruits to Pennsylvania, which is largely surrounded by farmland. Kraft added that in order to get the best talent out there, the program needs to be aggressive with NIL funds.
Pat Kraft Gets Honest About His Position As Penn State AD
Pat Kraft needs to hire the program’s head coach. James Franklin was dismissed, and Terry Smith was promoted to the head coach in the interim. Despite the fact that Smith ended the season with a three-game winning streak against Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers, Kraft isn’t convinced that Smith is the person for the job in 2026.
In another part of the leaked audio, Kraft gets honest about the position he finds himself in. He said he can’t settle for second best and that’s why retaining Smith as head coach would be difficult.
He also mentioned that if he messes up in his next hiring of a head coach, he will be without a job as AD.
Read More News:
Is Billy Napier Going to James Madison? All We Know About Ex Florida HC’s Potential Destination
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
