Penn State Needs a QB2. A True Freshman Is the Top Candidate

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was updated Dec. 18 to reflect comments from Penn State coach James Franklin about the team's situation at backup quarterback.

Penn State enters its first College Football Playoff appearance by making a significant change on offense. With backup quarterback Beau Pribula entering the transfer portal, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin will need a new backup quarterback for his squad’s playoff run.

The move from Pribula, which in some ways is unprecedented in this new college football landscape, puts Penn State in an awkward situation. The Nittany Lions will miss a multi-talented weapon in Pribula and are potentially one snap from playing a true freshman quarterback with no game experience. Meet Ethan Grunkemeyer, that true freshman who will serve as Penn State’s No. 2 quarterback for Saturday’s playoff game against SMU.

Grunkemeyer is QB2

Franklin said Monday that both Grunkemeyer and Jaxon Smolik, a redshirt freshman who recently was cleared to practice after a spring injury, would be "part of the equation” for the No. 2 quarterback role this postseason. However, Franklin updated the situation after practice Wednesday in State College: Grunkemeyer will serve as Penn State's No. 2 quarterback for the postseason.

"Ethan will be the backup quarterback in the game," Franklin said. "Smolik still isn't cleared medically [to play]. Grunk has done a really good job and put himself in a position that we have a lot of confidence in him and he's getting a ton of reps this week."

Franklin said that Smolik had been cleared to practice but not for game action. Grunkemeyer and Smolik are the only scholarship quarterbacks behind starter Drew Allar on Penn State's roster. Asked what the team's third option would be at quarterback, Franklin said, "We don't have a third option."

Grunkemeyer (6-2, 207 pounds) was a four-star recruit and the No. 8 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Smolik (6-1, 201) was a 3-star recruit and the No. 36 quarterback of the 2023 class, per 247Sports. Smolik has played in one game, against Delaware in 2023, and was cleared about a week ago to practice, Franklin said Monday.

“It's going to take a little bit more time and a little bit more creativity to get where we want to be. But we feel like the pieces are there, we've just got to use some different pieces than we've been using up to this point,” Franklin said. “If I had to guess, I'll bet you [(Grunkemeyer’s] probably got about 350 reps in practice. [Smolik], who we love and think has a very, very bright future, wasn't able to get those reps. So all those things will be factored in before we make those decisions.”

Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki hesitated to name a backup quarterback Monday but praised both while further clarifying that Smolik had recently been cleared from his injury. In the past, Kotelnicki said he had seen growth from the freshman quarterback.

“I'm really excited about [Smolik]. His progress has been really, really impressive. And Ethan's done a fantastic job as well,” Kotelnicki said. “Having [Allar] as a leader in that room is a huge deal for us. The way he goes about his business is awesome for anybody of any age to observe and see.”

‘He’ll be ready’

Grunkemeyer may be Penn State’s most capable backup quarterback right now but has yet to play. Even in blowout victories over Kent State, Purdue and Maryland, the Nittany Lions never quite found opportunities to work in Grunkemeyer — especially with Pribula playing such a significant role. However, multiple teammates, notably Allar, were quick to praise Grunkemeyer’s growth and off-the-field preparation.

“He's preparing really well and he always has been. And I think he's at the point now where he knows what it takes to prepare week in and week out,” Allar said. “I'm really excited for [Grunkemeyer] and [Smolik] and their futures.”

Tight end Tyler Warren called Grunkemeyer a “very talented quarterback,” adding that Penn State’s coaches have highlighted his development squad performances throughout the 2024 season.

“Each week, Coach Franklin takes clips from different [development] squad players that have been doing good. And I think [Grunkemeyer’s] been on there twice as much as anybody,” Warren said. “I think he'll be ready if that moment comes. … I’m excited for him.”

With Allar officially set to return to Penn State in 2025, Grunkemeyer likely won’t have a chance to be the full-time starter until at least 2026. But as the postseason presses Smolik and him into key roles at a critical period, the team is showing full confidence in its two young quarterbacks.

“It's been cool to see [Grunkemeyer’s] development, especially through camp and going into this season. … [I] always see clips of him in our team meetings making plays downfield, just airing the ball out and also being able to move around with his feet,” center Nick Dawkins said. “[Smolik] has been doing exactly what he's supposed to do every single day, day in and day out. And he's a great example of what it is to be a Penn State football player. So both of those guys, I think they'd absolutely be ready if their number’s called, and that's what we expect of them. I know that's what they expect of themselves as well.”

Penn State hosts SMU on Saturday in a first-round game of the College Football Playoff. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on TNT.

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Daniel Mader, a May 2024 graduate of Penn State, is an Editorial Intern with The Sporting News. As a student journalist with The Daily Collegian, he served as a sports editor and covered Nittany Lions women’s basketball, men’s volleyball and more. He has also covered Penn State football for NBC Sports and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, with additional work in the Centre Daily Times, Lancaster Online and more. Follow him on X @DanielMader_ or Instagram @dmadersports.