Penn State enters the 2025 season with a veteran nucleus that is having their “last dance.”
In this series, we’ll examine the current state of specific position groups and identify who looks like the next ones, who needs to step up, who’s in the pipeline in recruiting, and attempt to forecast the potential usage of the transfer portal.
In the first part of the series, the quarterback room will be examined.
Current Starter: Drew Allar
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Matt Lynch
By all accounts, Allar has lived up to his five-star rating.
He’s 23-6 as a starter, guided Penn State to a program-record 13 wins last season and is exceptional at protecting the ball, having the lowest career interception percentage in Penn State history.
Many analysts felt Allar was a Top 10 pick in this year’s Draft, but many feel if Allar can extinguish his negatives, notably big game performance, he has an opportunity not only to be the top quarterback taken but also the first player taken in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Potential Replacements: Ethan Grunkemeyer, Jaxon Smolik
James Franklin said at Penn State Media Day there is no time table for him to pick Allar’s backup. Franklin is content to have this battle wage throughout 2025 and into 2026.
The realities are there is not a present need to have a backup quarterback, as long as Allar stays healthy.
If there’s anything fans can glean from their three warmups prior to Oregon Sept. 27, it will be how Smolik and Grunkemeyer perform in mop up duty.
As the season progresses, will either position themselves to be part of a package where they come in relief of Allar or be used in a trick play situation like they did with Beau Pribula last year?
There is a lot to like about both.
Smolik channeled his version of being “The Heater From Van Meter” and has forced the staff to strongly look at how his game has stepped up.
Grunkemeyer, like Allar, is a Brad Maendler product and through many glimpses of summer workouts with Allar, the tools were demonstrated on full display.
Committed Pipeline: Troy Huhn
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Huhn has been seen as a fast rising prospect after his performance in the 2025 Elite 11 being invited to the Finals of the quarterback camp.
The four-star quarterback possesses a 6’4” frame that has room for more muscle coupled with the arm talent that excites many.
While evaluators haven’t been wowed by Huhn’s arm strength, it is met with his ability to be extremely accurate with excellent anticipation and ball placement.
The belief around Penn State is as Huhn bulks up and adds strength, the throwing power will come with it.
Recruiting Targets.
Penn State hasn’t been able to hit on a Class of 2027 target.
The program is 0-for-3 on its primary target, losing each to key recruiting rivals: Michigan (Peter Bourque), Ohio State (Brady Edmunds), and Notre Dame (Teddy Jerrard).
Here are three key recruiting targets Penn State is focusing on:
Keegan Croucher
Penn State came late to the party for the four-star Cheshire Academy (Fonda, New York) quarterback.
The Nittany Lions are making up ground for Croucher against Oregon and Ole Miss, who have been recruiting Croucher for a while.
Penn State is fortunate that Croucher valued them as he has unofficially visited Happy Valley four times.
Croucher’s travel itinerary has him in Ole Miss on September 27, Penn State when they host Indiana on November 8, then visiting Oregon on November 22.
Collin Boff
If there is a pipeline of Brad Maendler quarterbacks to Penn State, Boff would be the next in line.
Boff’s makeup compares more to Gunkemeyer than he does to Allar.
As Boff continues to grow at Harvest Prep (Columbus, Ohio) and with Maendler, the belief is the arm talent is going to continue to grow.
Syracuse has been all in on Boff but that can change quickly if his visit to the White Out against Oregon on September 27 goes as expected.
Charlie Foulke
Foulke has ample opportunity to build off of his Pennsylvania 6A Player of the Year campaign as St. Joseph’s Prep has marquee opposition that if Foulke performs, his stock will rise higher than the three-star grade he now has.
Currently, Foulke has seven Power Four offers from Georgia, Miami, Maryland, North Carolina, Pitt, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech.
Foulke did attend Penn State’s June 1 camp and impressed the staff.
With Penn State behind on Class of 2027 talent, coupled with being behind on Foulke, expect a lot of travel to St. Joe’s early in the 2025 season for evaluating him.
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: James Franklin
Portal Forecast:
Franklin has enjoyed stability with his quarterbacks having Sean Clifford (2019-2022) and Allar (2023 – present) start the past six seasons.
Franklin has to be confident the solution is between Smolik or Grunkemeyer.
If neither can distinguish themselves, I fully expect Franklin to entertain a quarterback or potentially a veteran backup if Smolik or Grunkemeyer transfer.
The key to watch on is who comes in for the Class of 2027.
Had Penn State been able to maintain a commitment with Falzone, bringing in two for the Class of 2026 could have been made up if they don’t land a quarterback to their liking in the ‘27 cycle.
The issue will compound if neither Smolik/Grunkemeyer aren’t a solution and no quarterback is signed in the ‘27 cycle for a certain transfer portal pickup.
Fortunately, Penn State has plenty of time to figure it all out.
