Leading up to the Blue-White Game on April 26, we will examine Penn State footballโs position groups through spring practice and into the summer before whatโs expected to be a big season in Happy Valley.
Today, we start with the quarterbacks and a returning Heisman Trophy candidate.ย
Drew Allar
There is some shakeup in the quarterback room this year, but the main pillar remains in place for one more season.ย
Allar returns for his senior year after leading Penn State to the College Football Playoff Semifinals in a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to Notre Dame.ย Allarโs interception in the final minute sealed PSUโs fate and prevented the game from going into overtime.
Penn State Drops Orange Bowl to Notre Dame in Heartbreaking Fashion
Allar announced his intention to return before the playoffs and was magnified by his run leading up to the Orange Bowl.
If Penn State won the National Championship, maybe weโre having a different conversation about the man under center.ย
This is a make-or-break season for coach James Franklin and Allar with multiple top players back, including Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Nick Dawkins, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zakee Wheatley.
Allar completed 66.5% of his passes for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns compared to eight picks in 16 games.ย
He averaged a career-best 8.4 yards per attempt and 153.5 QB rating despite throwing for one fewer touchdown in three additional games than last season.ย
Coordinator Andy Kotelnickiโs offense has helped Allar, but he needs to take the next step to propel Penn State to the promised land and put the team on his back. Allar must be better in the biggest games and make timely plays to prove heโs the quarterback so many believe him to be.
Ethan Grunkemeyer
2025 is a big year for Grunkemeyer. Battling with Jaxon Smolik to be the backup quarterback, Grunkemeyer grabbed the role in the CFP after Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal.ย
A redshirt freshman from Lewis Center, Ohio, Grunkemeyer completed 1-2 passes against SMU in relief of Allar in the CFP victory over SMU. It was his first collegiate action and didnโt appear against Boise State or Notre Dame.
Grunkemeyer has big shoes to fill and not a lot of experience, but is a talented player with a 6-foot-2 frame. He should receive a fair amount of reps in the spring game and feature opposite Allar as the gameโs two starting quarterbacks.
Jaxon Smolik
Donโt rule out Smolik from providing pressure on Grunkemeyer and battling for the backup job. Smolik hasnโt been able to get on the field after appearing in only one game as a redshirt freshman (2023) and being injured all of last season (2024).
The 6-foot-1 redshirt sophomore from Van Meter, Iowa, threw for 1,967 yards and 19 touchdowns during his senior year of high school, reaching the Iowa state semifinals.ย
A former three-star recruit, Smolik ranked as the No. 24 QB in the 2023 class by Rivals but No. 33 by 247Sports. Keep an eye on Smolik as spring practice continues and into the summer.
Jack Lambert & Bekkem Kritza
Despite having the same name as a Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl-winning linebacker, Penn State fans havenโt had the chance to learn much about Jack Lambert. A redshirt sophomore from Hampstead, North Carolina, Lambert has not seen the field for a regular-season game, but earned Academic All-Big Ten honors last season. He won the Developmental Squad Offensive Player of the Week award twice during his redshirt campaign, leading up to Delaware (September 9) and Rutgers (November 19).
The lone newcomer to the QB room, Bekkem Kritza enters PSU at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds as a three-star prospect. A freshman from Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Fla.) by way of Chandler, Arizona, Kritza committed to the Nittany Lions over Miami, Colorado, Texas A&M, Colorado State, Pitt, and others. Rivals dubbed Kritza as the No. 33 quarterback in the class of 2025 and could redshirt his freshman season.
The Blue-White game begins at 2 p.m. from a new-look Beaver Stadium.
