Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Penn State Football All 105

Penn State All 105: Is Jaxon Smolik QB2?

Jaxon Smolik evades the pocket and looks to throw on the run.

As of the end of last season, it didnโ€™t look like Jaxon Smolik would be Penn Stateโ€™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 teamโ€™s third-string QB behind Drew Allar and Beau Pribula.

When Pribula entered the transfer portal before the teamโ€™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 Smolikโ€™s spring performance, he just might.

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 213 pounds

Hometown: Van Meter, Iowa

Before Penn State: Jaxon Smolik was perhaps the best story in Penn Stateโ€™s 2023 recruiting class. When Florida prospect Marcus Stokes committed to Penn State in April 2022, it looked like the school had its โ€˜23 QB. But then, things changed. Stokes flipped to Florida in July, and Smolik was one of the top performers at the previous monthโ€™s Elite 11 showcase. With Penn State and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich suddenly on the hunt for a QB, Smolikโ€” who missed most of his junior season with an injuryโ€” 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 Iowaโ€™s Dowling Catholic High School signed with Penn State in December.

2023: Smolik redshirted his first season, appearing against Delaware Week 2.

Last year:ย Smolik didnโ€™t play at all last season and didnโ€™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:ย 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 seeโ€” which wasnโ€™t too many people since the game wasnโ€™t televisedโ€” liked what they saw.

So weโ€™ll see who Allarโ€™s No. 1 backup is. It might just be Smolik.

A quote by Smolik: โ€œI 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.โ€ย โ€” Smolik to reporters at Penn Stateโ€™s second-year player media availability in February 2024.

A quote about Smolik:ย โ€œYeah, Jaxson has done a heck of a job. We didnโ€™t really know, coming off injury, where he would be,โ€ Franklin said. โ€œI thought Jackson would come off the injury a little rusty. He has not been.โ€ โ€” James Franklin

Get NSN in your Inbox

Enter your email address to get notifications of new posts by email.

More from Nittany Sports Now

Penn State Football All 105

0 Penn State has had plenty of quality cornerbacks over the years, and it will probably be a while before Joshua Johnson gets his...

Uncategorized

1 Penn State has produced some quality safeties over the past several years, and Braz Thomas hopes to become one of them at the...

Penn State Football All 105

0 As recently as this past December, it seemed unlikely that Kaytron Allen would be back for Penn State in 2025. The common vibe...