Penn State Lands Top 2028 Commit As NFL Coaching Carousel Spins

It’s been a whirlwind weekend on the football front, with major moves and commitments shaking up both the college and professional landscapes. From the heart of Pennsylvania to the coaching offices of the NFL, the action is relentless—and fans are soaking up every twist and turn.

Let’s kick things off in the world of college football recruiting, where Penn State is making waves for the future. On Saturday, February 1, 2026, Deonte Flemings Jr., a 6-foot-3, 190-pound defensive back from Erie, Pennsylvania, announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions for the 2028 recruiting class. That’s right—Penn State is already locking in talent two years down the road! Flemings Jr., who stars at McDowell High School, received his scholarship offer from Penn State just a week prior and wasted no time after attending a Junior Day event to pledge his allegiance to the home-state program.

Flemings Jr. is a versatile athlete, currently lining up at cornerback for his high school squad. But with his impressive frame, there’s speculation he could evolve into a safety or even a linebacker as he continues to develop. As one local analyst put it, "He plays corner in high school, and looks damn good to be fair, but at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds as a high school sophomore, who knows where his body progression goes from here." The Nittany Lions are clearly prioritizing big, rangy athletes who can cover ground and make plays all over the field—a trend that’s quickly becoming a hallmark of Matt Campbell’s recruiting philosophy.

Flemings Jr. had no shortage of suitors, with notable offers from Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, and West Virginia. But it was the connection with Penn State—and perhaps the home-state pull—that sealed the deal. This marks Penn State’s first known commitment for the 2028 class, setting the tone for what could be another strong recruiting cycle in Happy Valley.

Meanwhile, over in Illinois, another defensive back prospect is seeing his stock soar. Jake Thies, a 6-foot, 185-pound safety from Oak Park and Fenwick High School, announced on Saturday, January 31, 2026, that he’d received a scholarship offer from the University of Iowa. For those familiar with Iowa’s storied tradition of developing elite defensive backs—known affectionately as the "Doughboys"—this is a significant nod. When Iowa comes calling, it’s a sign that a player has the potential to join a legendary lineage.

Thies is a class of 2027 three-star prospect whose recruitment has picked up serious steam. In addition to Iowa, he holds Division I offers from Vanderbilt, West Virginia, San Diego State, and UNLV. The Hawkeyes became the third Power Four program to offer Thies this week, underlining just how rapidly his profile is rising. And it’s not hard to see why: last season, he helped lead the Fenwick Friars to a state championship, delivering a monster performance in the title game with 18 tackles and an interception on defense, plus 161 yards of total offense and two touchdowns on the other side of the ball. Talk about a player who shines when the lights are brightest!

Iowa has now extended offers to five safeties in the 2027 recruiting class but is still waiting to land its first commitment from that group. Could Thies be the one to break the ice? His knack for making big plays in high-pressure situations certainly makes him a compelling prospect for Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s system. As recruiting analyst Zach Hiney noted, "He knows how to win and perform in big games, which is a great trait for a prospect to possess." The Hawkeyes will be watching closely as Thies weighs his options among a growing list of suitors.

While the college ranks are busy planning for the future, the NFL is seeing its own flurry of coaching changes—none more intriguing than the recent moves involving the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. On January 31, 2026, it was reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz that Derrick Ansley, the Packers’ former defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, is set to join the Dallas Cowboys’ coaching staff. Ansley’s experience with quarters-based defensive systems—honed during his tenures at Alabama, Tennessee, and the Los Angeles Chargers—makes him a natural fit for the Cowboys, who have just hired Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator.

Parker, fresh off a stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, also favors a quarters-based approach, and his communication skills reportedly set him apart during the Cowboys’ hiring process. Interestingly, Parker was chosen over Jonathan Gannon, who ultimately landed the defensive coordinator job with the Packers. The Packers’ head coach, Matt LaFleur, had interviewed four outside candidates and all four of his defensive assistants, including Ansley, before settling on Gannon for the top job.

Ansley’s departure is part of a broader exodus from the Packers’ defensive staff. Linebackers coach Sean Duggan and defensive backs coach Ryan Downard have also moved on to new opportunities, with Duggan and Downard joining the Miami Dolphins’ staff. The turnover signals a new era in Green Bay, as the Packers are expected to run a quarters defensive system under Gannon in 2026—much like the Cowboys’ approach under Parker.

To fill the vacancies, the Packers have already brought in Sam Siefkes as linebackers coach and Bobby Babich as defensive backs coach for the 2026 season. Siefkes previously coached linebackers under Gannon and comes from the Mike Zimmer coaching tree, while Babich is a member of the QB Collective and was previously interviewed by LaFleur for the defensive coordinator role in 2024.

What’s next for the Packers’ defensive staff? That’s still up in the air. If defensive line coach and run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington departs, it would mark the first time in decades that a new Green Bay defensive coordinator gets to build an entire staff from scratch. Historically, holdover assistants have always bridged the gap between coaching regimes, but the winds of change are clearly blowing in Titletown.

For both the college and pro levels, these developments underscore the relentless pace of football’s evolution. Programs and franchises alike are constantly seeking the right blend of talent, strategy, and chemistry to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it’s a high school star making a leap of faith or a seasoned coach embracing a new challenge, the only certainty is that the game never stands still.

As February unfolds, all eyes will be on how these new faces adapt to their roles and what impact they’ll have on the gridiron. For fans, the anticipation is half the fun—and the storylines just keep getting better.