Penn State football quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer was thrust into a starting role midseason with Drew Allar sustaining a collegiate career-ending ankle injury against Northwestern.
Penn State fans have made Matt Campbell’s mind up for him at QB after Pinstripe Bowl
Week after week, the redshirt freshman proved he can handle the pressure and run an offense. He wasn't perfect, and he wasn't expected to be either. Grunkemeyer finished the season, including the Pinstripe Bowl, with 123 completions for 1,339 yards and eight touchdowns. He had a 69.1 completion percentage.
He also knew how to use the tools around him, whether it was with running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, the wide receiver room, or tight end Andrew Rappleyea. Grunkemeyer got guys going early, and it was clear the offense trusted him. That trust couldn't be any clearer after this veteran Nittany Lions backed his backup quarterback.
Dominic Rulli gives Ethan Grunkemeyer a glowing review after 2025 season
“That he’s legit, that he’s the guy,” center Dominic Rulli said, per Penn State Nittany Lions On SI. “So if coach Campbell wants him, he’s there, to be honest. If not, I think other coaches on other teams will want him.”
Just how the team had faith in interim head coach Terry Smith, the offense had faith in Grunkemeyer. It's not an easy position abruptly stepping into a starting quarterback role as the team sinks deeper and deeper into a hole record-wise and spirit-wise.
On top of suddenly becoming the play caller on the field right after head coach James Franklin got fired and the Nittany Lions were in shambles, Grunkemeyer started his run against Iowa on the road. He faced a tough, three-game stretch at the Hawkeyes, at Ohio State, and against Indiana.
In all three of those games, Grunkemeyer exceeded expectations and improved against top-ranked teams in the country. Against the Hoosiers, he had a 71 completion percentage, completing 22 of 31 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. In the three-game win stretch finishing out the season, starting at Michigan State, Grunkemeyer's best performance came against Nebraska when he had a 91.7 completion percentage, missing just one of 12 passes.
What stood out to Rulli the most, though, was Grunkemeyer never blinking no matter what situation Penn State was in. Whether it was against the No. 1 and No. 2 team in the country or playing without veteran starters in the Pinstripe Bowl.
"When you have three offensive linemen starting for the first time and you’re a freshman, that takes some b—s, I’m not going to lie, to sit back there and deliver some strikes,” Rulli said.
Grunkemeyer had 260 passing yards and two touchdown throws against Clemson in the non-playoff bowl game, marking a career high in yards. He had a 67.6 passing rate, completing 23 of 34 throws, including a 73-yard touchdown pass.
Despite his situation, Grunkemeyer had confidence in himself and in his teammates. He handled himself with poise on and off the field, and took whatever was thrown at him without batting an eye. Keeping Grunkemeyer in Happy Valley is a decision left for head coach Matt Campbell, but even before hearing the support from his teammates, Grunkemeyer made a great impression.