As of the end of last season, it didn’t look like Jaxon Smolik would be Penn State’s second string quarterback.
No, it seemed that Ethan Grunkemeyer had that job on lock.
After all, it was Grunkemeyer, not Smolik, who was the team’s third-string QB behind Drew Allar and Beau Pribula.
When Pribula entered the transfer portal before the team’s College Football Playoff run, it was Grunkemeyer, not Smolik, who was elevated into the backup role.
Before spring practice, there was no reason to think that Grunkemeyer would lose his role.
But after Smolik’s spring performance, he just might.
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 213 pounds
Hometown: Van Meter, Iowa
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Before Penn State: Jaxon Smolik was perhaps the best story in Penn State’s 2023 recruiting class. When Florida prospect Marcus Stokes committed to Penn State in April 2022, it looked like the school had its ‘23 QB. But then, things changed. Stokes flipped to Florida in July, and Smolik was one of the top performers at the previous month’s Elite 11 showcase. With Penn State and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich suddenly on the hunt for a QB, Smolik— who missed most of his junior season with an injury— became a person of interest. Smolik had been committed to Tulane, but de-committed in August and announced his commitment to Penn State the next day. After a successful senior season that ended with a trip to the state semifinals, the three-star from Iowa’s Dowling Catholic High School signed with Penn State in December.
2023: Smolik redshirted his first season, appearing against Delaware Week 2.
Last year: Smolik didn’t play at all last season and didn’t practice too much, either. This was because of a significant injury he suffered during spring practice. As a result, Grunkemeyer leapfrogged him by default.
Where he stands: Coach James Franklin made it clear early in spring camp that the QB2 position was up for grabs. He also made it clear that he liked what he saw from Smolik. Penn State fans got to see Smolik at the Blue-White Game, and those who did see— which wasn’t too many people since the game wasn’t televised— liked what they saw.
So we’ll see who Allar’s No. 1 backup is. It might just be Smolik.
A quote by Smolik: “I believed in myself, I knew I could get the offense down, and I knew that if somebody went down I could be the next guy to go in and help our team win the game.” — Smolik to reporters at Penn State’s second-year player media availability in February 2024.
A quote about Smolik: “Yeah, Jaxson has done a heck of a job. We didn’t really know, coming off injury, where he would be,” Franklin said. “I thought Jackson would come off the injury a little rusty. He has not been.” — James Franklin
