Penn State notebook: Quarterback depth is suddenly very thin

James Franklin revealed Wednesday night how thin the Penn State quarterback position has become since Beau Pribula’s decision to transfer earlier this week.

Freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer will be the No. 2 quarterback behind Drew Allar during the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff run, which begins against SMU Saturday at noon (TV-TNT) at Beaver Stadium.

Redshirt freshman Jaxon Smolik is the only other scholarship quarterback on the roster, but he hasn’t received medical clearance to play in a game after suffering a long-term injury earlier this year.

Neither one has taken a snap in college.

Franklin, the Penn State coach, was asked who would be the No. 3 quarterback for the SMU game.

“We don’t have a third option right now,” he said.

The 6-2, 207-pound Grunkemeyer was considered a four-star prospect during his recruitment and enrolled in January. He starred at Oletangy High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, and has the same personal quarterback coach, Brad Maendler, as Allar.

“Ethan will be the backup in the game,” Franklin said. “Grunk’s done a really good job and put himself in a position in which we have a lot of confidence. He’s getting a ton of reps this week.”

Grunkemeyer passed for 8,401 yards and 80 touchdowns in high school, including 3,517 yards and 39 TDs as a senior when he led his team to an 11-2 record.

“His confidence is superb,” center Nick Dawkins said. “He’s ready to command the huddle. When you first come in as a freshman, you’re still questioning yourself a little bit on some plays and making sure you’re saying the right thing. But right now the way he speaks with conviction is a testament to his growth.

“He plays football naturally. He’s going to be a great guy here.”

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-notebook-quarterback-depth-044600795.html

Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.

Publish date : 2024-12-20 04:46:00

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