Penn State’s Quarterback Picture Is Changing Fast - And It’s Far From Settled
For the first time in three seasons, the Penn State offense will line up without Drew Allar under center. With Matt Campbell now leading the program, the quarterback room is in flux - and the competition for the starting job in 2026 is already heating up.
Let’s take a closer look at where things stand and what to expect moving forward.
Ethan Grunkemeyer: The Next Man Up - For Now
Ethan Grunkemeyer was widely expected to take over for Allar once the 2025 season wrapped. But when Penn State’s season took a downward turn, James Franklin was shown the door, and Matt Campbell stepped in. That coaching change has thrown more than a few things into question - including the future of the quarterback position.
Grunkemeyer will start in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson, but beyond that, nothing is set in stone.
“First and foremost, finishing on a high note through a challenging season, and I think that’s the most important thing,” Grunkemeyer said during a Zoom call last week.
He took over after Allar’s season-ending injury and showed steady growth through the final stretch of the year. He finished his redshirt freshman season with 1,074 passing yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions - a stat line that doesn’t jump off the page, but one that reflects a young quarterback settling in.
Grunkemeyer has already met with Campbell, new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, and quarterbacks coach Jake Waters - all of whom he’s familiar with from his high school recruitment, when he visited Iowa State.
With three years of eligibility left, Grunkemeyer will take his time evaluating his options after the bowl game.
“I think it’s hard to say right now, but the goal is find the best situation possible,” he said. “That’s kind of what my agents are helping me out with, my parents as well. Just finding the best situation for me and going from there.”
Rocco Becht: Following Familiar Faces to Happy Valley?
Rocco Becht, Iowa State’s three-year starter and one of the most productive quarterbacks in the country, has entered the transfer portal - and all signs point toward Penn State being a serious contender.
Becht threw for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns during his time in Ames, including a run that helped the Cyclones reach the 2024 Big 12 title game. With Campbell, Mouser, and Waters all now at Penn State, the connection is obvious.
“Quarterback’s funny, right? It’s fit.
It’s the relationship with the head coach,” Campbell said during his introductory press conference. “The head coach and the quarterback better be linked at the hip.”
Becht has one year of eligibility remaining and will be one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the portal. Penn State appears to be an early frontrunner, but he’ll have options.
Campbell has made it clear what he values in a quarterback - and it goes beyond arm strength and 40 times.
“Everybody likes fast. Everybody likes arm strength, but those things don’t win,” Campbell said. “What wins is grit, toughness, character and the ability to lead others around you, and the locker room always knows who the quarterback should be.”
That’s the kind of leadership Becht brings - and why Penn State may be an ideal landing spot.
Transfer Portal Heating Up - And Penn State’s In the Market
Under James Franklin, Penn State rarely dipped into the quarterback transfer pool. That’s changing fast.
The quarterback carousel is spinning across the country, and Penn State is expected to be active. One name to watch is Beau Pribula - yes, that Beau Pribula.
The former Nittany Lion spent a year at Missouri, where he won the starting job and threw for 1,941 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding six scores on the ground. He’s now back in the portal, and a return to Happy Valley isn’t out of the question.
Pribula, a York, Pennsylvania native, remains a fan favorite and would bring experience and mobility to the position.
Another intriguing option is Brendan Sorsby, who transferred to Cincinnati in 2025 after a stint at Indiana. He put up 2,800 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and just five picks, while adding nearly 600 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. With Penn State recently hiring Jack Griffith - a Cincinnati staffer who helped land Sorsby in the portal - there’s a natural connection.
Younger names are also in the mix. Mississippi State’s Luke Kromenhoek and North Carolina freshman Bryce Baker both have ties to Penn State. Kromenhoek visited during his recruitment before choosing Florida State, while Baker was on campus when the Nittany Lions played Maryland in 2024 and considered the program after Mack Brown left UNC.
Inside the QB Room: A Lot of Questions, Few Certainties
Beyond Grunkemeyer, the current quarterback room includes redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smolik, freshman Bekkem Kritza, and redshirt freshman walk-on Jack Lambert.
But don’t expect that group to stay intact for long.
If Penn State brings in a one-year transfer like Becht, it could push Grunkemeyer to explore other opportunities. Smolik, who saw limited action this season, could also be on the move. There’s a real chance neither is in the room next fall.
Kritza, recruited by the previous staff, may look elsewhere as well. He was brought in by Franklin and Danny O’Brien, now at Virginia Tech, and didn’t receive an offer from Iowa State out of high school.
Lambert, a walk-on, could pursue a scholarship opportunity at a lower-division program - though there’s a chance he sticks around as depth.
Looking ahead, early enrollee Peyton Falzone is already locked in for the 2026 class. And there’s more help on the way.
Kase Evans, who decommitted from Iowa State, has now pledged to Penn State. If he signs, it’ll mark the program’s first two-quarterback class since Drew Allar and Beau Pribula in 2022.
The Bottom Line
Penn State’s quarterback room is in transition - and it’s not just about replacing a starter. It’s about reshaping the identity of the offense under a new regime.
Matt Campbell has made it clear he wants a quarterback who fits his culture - someone who can lead, compete, and elevate the players around him. Whether that’s Ethan Grunkemeyer, Rocco Becht, or someone else from the portal, one thing’s for sure: the Nittany Lions’ quarterback battle is just getting started.