Imani Christian’s Gabe Jenkins latest WPIAL football recruit to decommit from Penn State

By: Chris Harlan
Sunday, October 12, 2025 | 5:47 PM

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Add Imani Christian’s Gabe Jenkins to the growing list of Penn State football commits reconsidering their futures.

Jenkins, a highly recruited defensive back, decommitted on Sunday, following similar decisions this week by Pine-Richland wideout Khalil Taylor and McKeesport running back Kemon Spell.

All three are juniors.

Jenkins’ decision came after Penn State announced Sunday the firing of head coach James Franklin, one day after a stunning 22-21 homecoming loss to Northwestern extended the Nittany Lions’ losing streak to three. The university tabbed assistant Terry Smith, a former Gateway football coach and athletic director, as interim coach.

Imani Christian coach LaRoi Johnson said uncertainty around the program’s future puts Penn State recruits in a tough spot.

“It’s extremely difficult,” Johnson said. “You were set on going to a certain place, and some other coaches may have stopped recruiting you because you committed there. Relationships get tested through situations like this.”

Johnson had two players on his roster committed to Penn State. He said senior defensive back David Davis remained committed to the Nittany Lions and will enroll early in January.

Likewise, Fort Cherry senior safety Matt Sieg, another Penn State commit who planned to enroll early, said Saturday he remained committed to Penn State. Whether Franklin’s exit Sunday will impact those plans was unknown.

In the current college recruiting landscape, Johnson said he encourages his players to build relationships with coaches from various colleges. He said those connections can prove invaluable in times like these.

“I hope this can teach young kids that you have to have great relationships and treat everybody like the coach you’re in love with,” Johnson said. “Don’t burn bridges. That bridge may be the bridge you need to get where you’ve got to go.”

Jenkins had nearly 20 FBS options when he committed to Penn State in August, choosing the Nittany Lions over Power 4 offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Baylor, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, SMU and Syracuse. The 6-foot, 187-pounder recently added Florida State, North Carolina and USC.

“He wants to have the opportunity to see what’s best for him and his family,” Johnson said. “He’ll take some time to figure that out. That’s what he wants to do, and I definitely understand that.”

Johnson stressed that Jenkins’ decision to talk with other colleges doesn’t mean choosing the Nittany Lions is off the table entirely.

“That’s the thing people don’t understand,” Johnson said. “It’s not like he can’t go to Penn State. It’s part of the business of today’s game.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Imani Christian, McKeesport, Pine-Richland