Penn State plans to use backup QB Ethan Grunkemeyer against Boise State per coach James Franklin.
When Beau Pribulaโwho appeared in the team’s first 13 gamesโentered the transfer portal earlier this month, many PSU fans assumed that barring injury or a blowout, the team would no longer use any quarterback but Drew Allar.
But per Franklin, that might not be the case.
Speaking with media for the first time since the team arrived in Arizona Saturday night, Franklin told reporters Sunday morning that coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has packages installed for Grunkemeyer that Penn State hopes to use against Boise State New Year’s Eve.
WHAT JAMES SAID
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin speaks to the crowd after the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl college football game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Carlos Herrera/Icon Sportswire)
Grunkemyer, a 6-foot-2, 203-pound true freshman from Olentangy, Ohio, didn’t take a college snap before the College Football Playoff first-round matchup with SMU at Beaver Stadium last Saturday.
With Penn State ahead 38-3, Grunkmeyer got in the game.
His first pass was completed… to the wrong team.
Grunkemeyer regrouped to complete his next pass, and Franklin feels the experience was quite valuable.
“As you know, super talented young man that we have a lot of confidence in,” Franklin said. “Up to this point, he’d really been impressing people on what we call the developmental squad. Basically, the look squad for our defense, and making some phenomenal throws. Obviously, during training camp, he was getting more reps when he was actually competing (for a starting job). So to have him back now in the mix and then be able to get some reps with the varsity has been valuable.”
Franklin said Penn State tried to get Grunkemeyer in the SMU game “as early as possible.”
“Because we knew it would be important moving forward,” Franklin said.
As for Boise State? Well, we’ll have to see.
“We’ll have some packages for him in this game as well,” Franklin said. “because I think it’s important that we get him in the game. He’s taken some tremendous strides. He’s a very talented football player who has a bright future, and obviously, under the circumstances, his journey has changed. And he’s embraced that journey, and I know our team has a ton of confidence in him. So really, really important reps that he’s getting every single day in practice.”
IS THIS REALISTIC?
Ethan Grunkemeyer with James Franklln. Penn State Athletics
It’s intriguing that Franklin went out of his way to say that Grunkemeyer could get in the game against Boise State. But would Penn State throw a true freshman in at quarterback– again, barring injury or blowout– during what’s the most important game of the season to this point? It’s hard to say. Franklin has shown in the past that he likes using more than one QB (Trace McSorley/Tommy Stevens, Sean Clifford/Will Levis, Drew Allar/Beau Pribula). But there hasn’t been a case where Franklin has used a true freshman at the football’s most important position during a do-or-die game. With that said, Pribula did play in all 13 games before he hit the portal, so it’s not like Penn State’s offense isn’t used to it.
No. 6 Penn State takes on No. 3 Boise State in this year’s Fiesta Bowl/Colege Football Playoff quarterfinal New Year’s Eve night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 on ESPN from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
