Penn State Notebook: Franklin Picks Grunkemeyer as No. 2 Quarterback

Penn State Notebook: Franklin picks Grunkemeyer as No. 2 quarterback

Penn State football coach James Franklin said after practice Wednesday night that Ethan Grunkemeyer will begin the season as the No. 2 quarterback behind Drew Allar. Franklin emphasized that the decision to choose Grunkemeyer over Jaxon Smolik is only for Saturday’s opener against Nevada at 3:30 (TV-CBS) at  Beaver Stadium. “He (Grunkemeyer) was just a little bit more consistent from the beginning of camp to the end,” he said. “I say it’s only f…

How Penn State Plans to Deploy its Backup Quarterbacks vs. Nevada

Ethan Grunkemeyer wins the QB2 role for the Nittany Lions — for now, James Franklin says.

James Franklin names Penn State’s backup quarterback

The battle to back up Drew Allar was a close one, Franklin said.

Penn State Names Backup Quarterback for Season Opener Against Nevada

Penn State has made a decision on the QB2 battle, and just in time for its Week 1 clash against the visiting Nevada Wolfpack. On Wednesday night inside Holuba Hall, head coach James Franklin revealed redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer has overtaken redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smolik for the backup role, at least for the time being. “Grunk for Week 1," Franklin said. "It’s not for the season, it’s for Week 1. He was a little more consistent from th…

James Franklin Reveals Backup Quarterback for Week 1 Against Nevada

It might not be permanent, but Penn State has announced who won its backup quarterback battle. After practice on Wednesday and three days away from the season opener against Nevada, James Franklin told the media that redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemyer will back up Drew Allar on Saturday. “From the beginning of camp to the end, (he was) just a little bit more consistent,” Franklin said.  Grunkemeyer, 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, narrowly edged out redsh…

Ethan Grunkemeyer Named Penn State Football's Backup Quarterback Ahead Of Season Opener

James Franklin named redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer as Penn State’s backup quarterback at his weekly post-practice media availability on Wednesday ahead of the team’s season opener against Nevada on Saturday. James Franklin announced that Ethan Grunkemeyer will be the backup quarterback over Jaxon Smolik for week one. “Why I say for week one is because it was close.”— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) August 27, 2025 The 6’2″, 212-pound sign…