There were two reasons that Penn State utilized backup quarterback Beau Pribula in gadget packages so often this season. First, because he’s an immensely talented player with a dynamic skillset, and second, to keep him out of the transfer portal. Well, part 2 of that plan fell through with Pribula departing the team before the College Football Playoff and transferring to Missouri, but now Franklin has a similar plan for true freshman QB Ethan Grunkemeyer backed by a completely different logic.
Surprisingly, in the lead-up to Penn State’s Fiesta Bowl matchup with Boise State on Tuesday night in Glendale, Arizona, Franklin told reporters that he plans to have a package of plays for Grunkemeyer.
“We’ll have some packages for him in this game as well,” Franklin said with Grunkemeyer’s collegiate debut finally in the rearview mirror. “I think it’s important that we get him in the game. He’s taken some tremendous strides. He’s a very talented football player who has a bright future, and obviously, under the circumstances, his journey has changed. And he’s embraced that journey, and I know our team has a ton of confidence in him. So really, really important reps that he’s getting every single day in practice.”
According to Franklin, Grunkemeyer making his debut against SMU was a top priority for Penn State’s first-round CFP matchup. The true freshman, who has been impressing the coaching staff all season in practice, was elevated to QB2 with Pribula’s departure, and entering the quarterfinal as 10.5-point favorites over Boise State, Franklin evidently feels that getting his backup QB experience is important enough to sacrifice a few snaps without Drew Allar touching the football.
With Pribula gone, Grunkemeyer, a four-star recruit, is the heir-apparent to Allar after his senior season in 2025, so there is little fear that he will transfer away from the program, and without any remarkable rushing ability, the freshman isn’t the change of pace that Pribula was. No, the only reason to play Grunkemeyer against Boise State, is fear. Fear that if his number is eventually called this postseason, he won’t be ready.
If Allar goes down with an injury, as he did in Week 9 against Wisconsin, Pribula won’t be there to bail the offense out. It’ll be Grunkemeyer’s turn to run the show for the first time in his young career, and that’s a scary proposition for a coaching staff that spent the entire season with one of the deepest quarterback rooms in the country.
The good news, however, is that Franklin and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki apparently trust Grunkemeyer, who threw an interception on his first career pass attempt against SMU, enough that him playing in the biggest game of the year isn’t as scary as him not playing at all. Though, on gameday, we’ll see if the coaching staff has enough faith to back those words up. It's easy to throw a true freshman out on the field with a 38-3 lead as Franklin did at Beaver Stadium, but if the Fiesta Bowl isn't a blowout, I wouldn't expect much playing time for Grunk.