Penn State ‘24 QB commit Ethan Grunkemeyer’s had a swift rise.
When he started his junior season at Olentangy High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, the three-star, 6-foot-2.5, 190-pounder didn’t have any division one offers.
He didn’t get his first Power Five (Northwestern) offer until April.
By the end of April, he had an offer from Penn State; and by the end of May, he was committed there. The day after he announced his commitment, Grunkemeyer competed at Elite 11’s State College Showcase.
He was the only quarterback from that showcase to receive an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles. The finals started Wednesday, June 14 and will run through Friday, June 16.
Day 1 went quite well for Grunkemeyer. So well, in fact, that On3Sports named him the event’s MVP.
Penn State QB commit Ethan Grunkemeyer wins the Elite 11 Finals Day 1 On3 MVP🔥
More via @CharlesPower: https://t.co/QEuBGHdIGi pic.twitter.com/IsTOng3Dfx
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 15, 2023
He beat out some of the best ‘24 QB’s in the country, including five-star Georgia QB commit Dylan Raiola and five-star Michigan QB Jadyn Davis.
#PennState bound passer Ethan Grunkemeyer with the dot. pic.twitter.com/xvIMW4pxQy
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) June 15, 2023
The Elite 11 Finals are a premier high school quarterback showcase.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Ethan Grunkemeyer’s arm talent is 📈 @Elite11 @e_grunkemeyer #WeAre pic.twitter.com/dgBWBHFrzF
— Ronny Torres (@RonnyTorres_) June 15, 2023
Last summer, Penn State ‘23 signee Jaxon Smolik played well enough to be named one of the Elite 11 at the end of the showcase.
Penn State QB commit Ethan Grunkemeyer a finalist in @Elite11 Finals rail shot competition https://t.co/4VU1uJKNvG pic.twitter.com/4UP4yA9r8p
— Charles Power (@CharlesPower) June 15, 2023
Smolik had been committed to Tulane, but his performance there boosted his stock and helped him get offered by Penn State. Smolik ended up de-committing from Tulane, committing to Penn State in August and signing in December.
Ethan Grunkemeyer AGAIN at Elite 11 https://t.co/9ncfltGDnN pic.twitter.com/TGcJN59FvV
— Pete Nakos (@Pete_Nakos96) June 15, 2023
Nittany Sports Now spoke with Grunkemeyer’s high school head coach, Brett Bartholomew, ahead of the Elite 11 Finals.
“I think he deserves this chance,” Bartholomew said. “I know it was a life long dream of his. He was obsessed with it. My hope is that it just continues to build his confidence in himself. He is going to be able to compete out there with the best of the best and that is an awesome experience. I’m excited for him and can’t wait to watch it all.”
So far, Grunkemeyer is making the most of his chance.
