Growing up watching college football highlights filled with explosive plays and impressive touchdowns, Ethan Grunkemeyer said it was “always the dream” to find the end zone in a game. With Penn State holding a 38-3 lead over SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff, he got his first chance to do that.
Unfortunately, his debut didn’t go as planned. His first pass attempt was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted, a mistake that, while not entirely his fault, allowed SMU to score its only touchdown in a 38-10 loss on Dec. 21, 2024. He came out for a second drive, though it was mainly to bleed the clock via the ground game.
The setback stung, and the wait for redemption was long — over eight months — before he could take the field again in a meaningful way. For a young quarterback eager to prove himself, those months of waiting tested his patience and resolve.
On Saturday, fresh off winning Penn State’s QB2 battle, Grunkemeyer had his chance for redemption. He capitalized by leading a 94-yard drive, capped off by a 6-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Nittany Lions’ season-opening win against Nevada.
“It was just great to be able to celebrate with my teammates, celebrate with the O-line, have them lift me up,” Grunkemeyer said on Tuesday. “That was definitely something I’ll never forget. Just looking back, it was just a great moment, and I’m very thankful for it.”
The quarterback finished 7-for-9 passing for 86 yards, demonstrating great poise in his first extended action. After months of waiting, he vindicated his showing against SMU and gave fans a glimpse at his passing abilities.
“The difference is just having another extra year of learning under my belt, I felt a lot more comfortable as a second-year guy with the playbook and my second year under Coach (Andy Kotelnicki) — so just kind of that comfortability factor, I think played a big point,” Grunkemeyer said.
Head coach James Franklin made it abundantly clear the backup quarterback battle is fluid — redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smolik may claim the job at any moment — but for now, Grunkemeyer will see ample playing time as the backup.
Franklin said Monday Grunkemeyer looked better against the Wolf Pack than he’s looked during practice, citing his decisiveness and pocket presence.
Tight end Andrew Rappleyea, who also spent a lot of time practicing with the twos this offseason while returning from a major injury, was able to build chemistry and observe Grunkemeyer firsthand.
“Playmaker. There’s no denying that,” Rappleyea said. “The thing about him is he’s got a ridiculously talented arm. He can flip the thing. And he’s also just got a swagger and a confidence to him that you just don’t see with a lot of guys.”
The Nittany Lions are 41.5-point favorites against Florida International on Saturday and may be larger favorites against FCS Villanova the following week. With two more projected blowouts to round out nonconference play, Grunkemeyer will likely see opportunities for more touchdowns.
As he continues to develop under Kotelnicki’s guidance, Grunkemeyer’s journey from a rocky debut to a promising backup quarterback signals a bright future for both him and the Nittany Lions, putting him in position to take over as a full-time starter next season.
