It hasn’t been a great run for Penn State on the recruiting trail lately, especially at the quarterback position. The Nittany Lions recently watched 2026 commit Peyton Falzone flip to Auburn, and then on Thursday, James Franklin and his staff missed out on 2027 four-star Teddy Jarrard in another recruiting loss to Notre Dame.
However, there is still plenty of reason for optimism about Penn State’s long-term quarterback situation. 2024 four-star Ethan Grunkemeyer is positioned as the clear successor to Drew Allar, 2026 five-star Troy Huhn displayed plenty of promise at the Elite 11 Finals this summer, and the Nittany Lions’ next 2027 target couldn’t be more clear after whiffing on Jarrard.
James Franklin and staff well-positioned to land 2027 4-star Peter Bourque
According to 247Sports Composite Rankings, Peter Bourque is the 6th-ranked quarterback in the 2027 class, eight spots ahead of Jarrard at No. 14. Bourque is a top-100 recruit with an intimidating pocket presence at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds and a live arm. He’s a superior prospect to Jarrard, and the Marion, Massachusetts, product is predicted to land with the Nittany Lions after making two unofficial visits to Happy Valley last winter.
It appears that Penn State will be unable to land two quarterbacks in the 2026 class, so replenishing the depth at that position behind Grunkemeyer after Allar moves on to the NFL will be a slower process. However, Bourque is the type of prospect who could be worth the wait.
The ball jumps out of Bourque’s hand. With a quick release and a big arm, he can threaten every inch of the field, driving balls into tight windows over the middle with a variety of arm angles, feathering it into the second level with impressive touch, and attacking outside the numbers downfield.
While his arm is most impressive, Bourque is far from a statue. His sophomore tape reveals a capable and willing runner, both using his athleticism to extend plays behind the line of scrimmage or to pick up important yardage as a scrambler. It’s not a certainty that offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki will still be on the Penn State staff come 2027 or beyond, but Bourque is the type of quarterback with enough mobility to thrive in his multiple scheme.
Playing high school football in the northeast often allows a prospect to become overlooked. In many cases, understandably so, because the level of competition certainty isn’t on par with Texas High School football or other recruiting hotbeds throughout the country. That reality, along with the geographic proximity, should work to Penn State’s advantage in Bourque’s recruitment.
If the Nittany Lions close the deal with Bourque in the 2027 class, the loss to Notre Dame for Jarrard’s commitment will be quickly forgotten.