Penn State’s Ethan Grunkemeyer describes his first college snaps as surreal

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – As he jogged onto the field to take his first college snap, Ethan Grunkemeyer surveyed Beaver Stadium and the 106,013 fans, almost all wearing white.

The scene was something he will never forget.

“It was surreal,” Grunkemeyer said at the Fiesta Bowl during his first media availability at Penn State. “I was kind of looking around, taking a deep breath and taking it all in. It’s a moment you don’t get back, being on the field for the first time.

“It was an awesome experience. I had been dreaming about it since I was a kid.”

Grunkemeyer played the final 10-plus minutes of the Nittany Lions’ 38-10 rout of SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 21.

He has become the No. 2 quarterback behind Drew Allar since Beau Pribula put his name in the transfer portal and left the program this month.

His readiness is critical as Penn State (12-2) prepares to meet Boise State (12-1) in a CFP quarterfinal in the Fiesta Bowl at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (TV-ESPN).

“He’s a super talented young man that we have a lot of confidence in,” Penn State coach James Franklin said about Grunkemeyer. “Up to this point, he really had been impressing people on what we call the developmental squad, the ‘look squad’ for our defense, and making some phenomenal throws. To have him now in the mix and to be able to get him some reps with the varsity has been invaluable.”

As a recruit, the 6-2, 203-pound Grunkemeyer was a four-star prospect from Olentangy High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, whose stock rose dramatically in the year before he enrolled at Penn State in January.

He set Olentangy records for career passing yards (8,401), career passing touchdowns (80), season passing yards (3,517) and season passing touchdowns (39), the last two as a senior.

Grunkemeyer and Allar have the same…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-ethan-grunkemeyer-describes-044600943.html

Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.

Publish date : 2024-12-31 04:46:00

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