It might not be permanent, but Penn State has announced who won its backup quarterback battle.
After practice on Wednesday and three days away from the season opener against Nevada, James Franklin told the media that redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemyer will back up Drew Allar on Saturday.
“From the beginning of camp to the end, (he was) just a little bit more consistent,” Franklin said.
Grunkemeyer, 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, narrowly edged out redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smolik.
“We’re excited about both of those guys,” Franklin said. “Both of those guys have shown some flashes.”
While Grunkemeyer will be the next man up when the Nittany Lions take the field this week, it doesn’t mean that Smolik is entirely out of the running for reps.
“The same reason why I say for Week 1, because it was close,” Franklin said.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Depending on practice reps and competition, Franklin could pull the plug on Grunkemeyer and turn to Smolik to be the No. 2.
“The Sunday practices where those guys play, that’s going to be important to continue evaluating those guys as the season goes on,” Franklin said.
A former four-star prospect in the class of 2024 from Lewis Center, Ohio, Grunkemeyer became the backup for the College Football Playoff after Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal. Grunkemeyer completed one of two passes for nine yards in his first game against SMU in the first round of the CFP.
Smolik missed the entire 2024 campaign due to injury.
The Nittany Lions begin the season on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with the most lofty external expectations of the James Franklin era and program history since 1994 and 1997.
