Former Penn State commit Layton von Brandt is gearing up for an exciting spring visit schedule, which promises to be a pivotal moment in his college football journey. 'Penn State is on my top eight for a reason,' von Brandt asserts, 'I love the school and the program, obviously, or I wouldn’t have committed.' But here's where it gets intriguing... After initially announcing a Top 8 list at the end of January, von Brandt has now narrowed it down to six spring visits, with a plan to further refine his choices after these visits. These visits will take him to some familiar and new destinations, offering a unique insight into the programs he's considering.
The first leg of his journey begins with a trip to Virginia Tech on March 21st, where he'll get to meet head coach James Franklin and his staff. Just a few days later, he'll head south to Florida, where he'll visit his former Penn State offensive line coach, Phil Trautwein, who now coaches at his alma mater. This visit is particularly intriguing as it allows von Brandt to reconnect with his roots and see how the program has evolved under Trautwein's guidance.
From there, he'll venture further south to Auburn and Tennessee, both SEC schools, on March 26th and 28th, respectively. These visits will provide a broader SEC experience and allow him to gauge the differences in coaching styles and program culture. After these visits, he'll return home, having gained valuable insights into the programs he's most interested in.
In April, von Brandt plans to take two more visits, starting with Notre Dame on April 11th. This visit is significant as it marks his first trip to State College since the White Out game against Oregon in late September. It will also be his third in-person meeting with offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, following previous in-school and in-home visits in January. Matt Campbell also joined Clanton at Appoquinimink on Jan. 16, further emphasizing the importance of this relationship-building process.
Von Brandt's commitment to deliberate and give each program a fair shot is commendable. He aims to narrow his choices to three or four schools after spring visits and then take official visits. This approach demonstrates his maturity and dedication to making an informed decision. The 6-foot-6, 255-pound offensive tackle is ranked No. 48 nationally, according to Rivals' Industry Rankings, and is the sixth-ranked offensive tackle and No. 1 overall in Delaware for the 2027 class. His choices will have a significant impact on his future, and we can't wait to see how this story unfolds. So, what do you think? Do you agree with von Brandt's decision to visit these schools, or do you have a different perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
