Will Penn State regret firing James Franklin? Yeah, maybe.
Before The Snap takes a deeper look at Penn State football and possible replacements for James Franklin at the helm.
Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer will get the first start of his college career in one of the most important flashpoints for Penn State football team.
The redshirt freshman from Ohio will play the first truly meaningful snaps for the Nittany Lions in Saturday night’s tell-all experience at Iowa.
In one tortured weekend, these Lions lost starting quarterback Drew Allar, then their third-straight game and their College Football Playoff hopes — and then, stunningly enough, head coach James Franklin.
Grunkemeyer must now lead Penn State into one of the most charged enemy atmospheres in the Big Ten — a night game at rowdy Kinnick Stadium. He will be in place of three-year starter Drew Allar, who suffered a broken ankle near the end of that homecoming loss to Northwestern.
Will this be more of a survival or revial experience for Grunkemeyer and the Nittany Lions, whose season appeared to spiral even before losing Franklin?
Here are five things to know about their new starting quarterback:
Penn State football: Ethan Grunkemeyer has little college game experience
Grunkemeyer beat out redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smolik for the top backup quarterback spot in preseason camp.
How will he fare in first significant action?
He’s played only at the end of four games this season, completing 8-of-11 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.
He ran Penn State’s final offensive play in Saturday’s homecoming loss to Northwestern after Allar went down. He ran for 2 yards on fourth-and-3.
His only game work last season was throwing a couple of passes at the end of the College Football Playoff first-round victory over SMU — his first, an interception.
Ethan Grunkemeyer owned an impressive recruiting rise
Grunkemeyer was an intriguing three-star recruit when he verbally committed to the Lions in May of 2023 — choosing them over Minnesota and Cincinnati.
A month later he starred at the annual Elite 11 Finals in California, arguably the most prestigious high school quarterback showcase.
Then came a prolific senior season at Ohio’s Olentangy High, where he completed 66 percent of his passes for more than 3,500 yards and 39 touchdowns. He was a first-team all-state selection.
He enjoyed a rapid recruiting rise soon after.
He became a heralded four-star prospect — rated the nation’s No. 5 quarterback by ESPN, No. 8 QB by 247Sports and No. 9 QB by On3.
Ethan Grunkemeyer impresses interim coach Terry Smith, teammates
Grunkemeyer quickly appeared to win over interim coach Terry Smith and teammates leading into his first college start.
“Yeah, we have every bit of confidence in Ethan. He has a strong arm, he is athletic, super smart kid,” Smith said this past week.
“He’s going to be ready. You know, we’re going to rep him all week and drill him all week and put him in class on grass. We’re very confident we’re going to have a game plan for him that fits him.”
Senior center Nick Dawkins said this: “I have all the confidence in the world in Grunk. He’s a baller. He goes out there and plays with confidence and been doing so since he got on campus. … He’s not scared. He plays to win, and that’s all you can ask out of a quarterback, especially given the situation.”
Ethan Grunkemeyer is following in Drew Allar’s footsteps
Grunkemeyer and Allar — who was projected as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick coming into the season — own favorable ties.
Both were raised in Ohio, about 90 minutes apart. Grunkemeyer is from Lewis Center, near Columbus; Allar is from Medina, just west of Akron.
Both work with private quarterbacks coach Brad Maendler.
Both were late-rising, national recruits after they verbally committed to Penn State.
Ethan Grunkemeyer athletic family ties
Grunkemeyer’s parents were both college athletes.
His mothers, Heather Grunkemeyer and Megan McCabe, both played college basketball. Heather played at Ohio State (1997-99) and Megan at Gustavus Adolphus College (1989-93).
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
