Penn State hoping to poach four-star QB after nabbing a spot in the Big Ten title game

For the first time since 2016, the Nittany Lions are heading to Indianapolis to play for the Big Ten championship. They will face the undefeated No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks, which should be a competitive, feisty matchup. Amid the chaos of Saturday’s rivalry week in college football, Penn State hosted numerous prospects in the next few recruiting classes, most notably a four-star UNC commit.

Bryce Baker is a 6-foot-2 all-around quarterback from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, North Carolina. He is currently verbally committed to the University of North Carolina, but his recruitment seems to be reopened with UNC head coach Mack Brown being let go from the program.

Baker is currently ranked as the 81st recruit in 247sports’s composite rankings, slotting in as the 8th quarterback recruit. Andrew Ivins, a Director of Scouting at 247sports, performed an evaluation on Baker earlier this year.

“Mobile signal caller with a muscled-up build that will throw his wide receivers open,” Ivins continues, “Can be a bit streaky at times as a passer, but has some impressive long balls on the junior spray chart.” he concludes that Baker, “Must keep improving his footwork and decision-making, but has tools to develop over the next few years. Likely to find the most success in a modern spread attack that wants to move him around.

Penn State will be in a good spot at quarterback for the next few years, and the Nittany Lions might have Drew Allar for another year. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula has earned some reps this season, mostly operating the read-option. He will be a redshirt junior next season and should be the starting quarterback next season if Allar departs for the NFL. 

Another option for the Nittany Lions is Ethan Grunkmeyer, a near top 100 recruit in 2024. Grunkmeyer opted to use a redshirt this season, and he has the potential to start for the Nittany Lions in the next few years, especially if Allar returns and Pribula transfers from the program to be a starter elsewhere. 

Penn State also earned a commitment from Troy Huhn, the 12th-ranked quarterback commit in the 2026 recruiting class. If Penn State lands Baker, it’s possible that Huhn flips his commitment to the program. 

The Nittany Lions have a really good chance to land Baker before the National Signing Days commence. Even if they don’t, they are in a great spot at the quarterback position for the foreseeable future with Allar, Pribula, Grunkmeyer and Huhn.