Ethan Grunkemeyer embraced the mentality of preparing like a starter throughout his first two seasons as a backup quarterback at Penn State, but it was still unexpected when he found himself trotting onto the field at Beaver Stadium last Saturday.
When starter Drew Allar was tackled awkwardly between two Northwestern defenders with what was later revealed as a broken left ankle, Grunkemeyer had just minutes to warm up before calling the huddle for a fourth-and-3 situation with the game on the line.
His ensuing scramble ultimately yielded no gain and resulted in a turnover on downs, but Grunkemeyer felt ready for the moment, thanks to the support of his teammates.
“Just being loud and vocal, that’s something to talk about with all the people, all the crowd noise,” Grunkemeyer said. “And so I think I definitely did that. (Nick Dawkins) and the receivers, Kaytron Allen, definitely did a great job hyping me up, telling me they believe in me. So it definitely made me feel comfortable that they had faith in me.”
With Allar out for the rest of the year, his college career concludes on a bitter note, though Grunkemeyer said he’s embraced the situation with a positive attitude and they’ve been in constant communication since.
“Me and Drew talk every day over texts,” Grunkemeyer said. “That’s my guy, so I was just checking in on him. Obviously, that’s a super tough situation for him … He’s just been super helpful. Kind of telling me what to expect. You know, he’s played in a lot of big games on the road, so he’s a great mentor on that aspect. Just kind of what to expect and what to be ready for.”
Grunkemeyer will be faced with one of the most difficult three-game stretches a college quarterback could undertake to begin his experience as a starter, leading Penn State into a nighttime matchup at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium before traveling to face No. 1 Ohio State on the road and hosting No. 3 Indiana in Beaver Stadium.
All three defenses rank in the top eight nationally in points allowed per game, creating a unique challenge for the former four-star that begins on Saturday in one of the sport’s most hostile venues.
“Kinnick Stadium is definitely, definitely one of the premier places to play,” Grunkemeyer said. “But, you know, we’ve been working on it. We’re ready for it. So I’m excited.”
His first week of preparation with the designation of starter has gone well, according to interim head coach Terry Smith. The two have had “continuous meetings” to get on the same page in a short amount of time in their new roles.
“Fortunately or unfortunately, he and I have been thrust into a role that neither one of us saw coming for this week,” Smith said on Wednesday. “I think he’s had a really good two weeks, and we’re encouraged, and hopefully he has another two good practice days and goes into the game feeling good.”
In addition to picking Allar’s brain, Grunkemeyer has relied on the expertise of quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien and assistant Trace McSorley, who have helped him feel “super ready” to start.
Snapping the team’s unprecedented three-game losing skid won’t be an easy task for the new regime, but honest feedback has enabled growth in the buildup to the game.
“(Smith) was just being honest with me, and he wanted that same feedback from me, just to be honest with him about what I’ve seen,” Grunkemeyer said. “So I think having that middle ground has been super, super important for both of us just to be on the same page and be connected.”
