James Franklin raves about incoming Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer

Another drama-free National Signing Day is in the books for Penn State football. On Wednesday, the Nittany Lions signed a top-15 class in the 2024 cycle. A record-setting 16 signees from the 2024 recruiting class are set to enroll at Penn State in just a few weeks. But few of the 2024 recruits have had as dramatic of a rise as incoming QB Ethan Grunkemeyer. This week, James Franklin broke down what the Nittany Lions see in Grunkemeyer, and what his future could look like in Happy Valley.

James Franklin: Ethan Grunkemeyer is “wired right”

Few stories have been more enjoyable to watch this year than the rise of Olentangy (Ohio) QB Ethan Grunkemeyer. The incoming Nittany Lions QB was a relatively unknown three-star prospect when he committed to Penn State football in May. But after impressing the scouts on the summer camp circuit and on the gridiron this fall, Grunkemeyer has vaulted to be a top-10 QB nationally in the 2024 recruiting class.

Grunkemeyer, who was the No. 991 overall player seven months ago, is now on the verge of being a top 100 prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. During Wednesday’s National Signing Day festivities, Penn State football coach James Franklin shared what the Nittany Lions saw in Ethan Grunkemeyer.

“We recruited Ethan because we’ve seen over time that he’s got a chance to be a really talented player in the Big Ten and nationally,” Franklin said. “He’s proved that, over his entire career, and really over the last probably year and a half, he has really taken it to a different level.

“His high school and his high school coach did a phenomenal job with him,” he continued. “His QB trainer [Brad Maendler], as you know now, we’ve got history with him. He’s done a great job with him as well. His family has done a great job. This kid is wired right. He’s been raised right. Discipline and structure at his high school. Discipline and structure in his home.”

What does the future hold for the incoming Penn State QB?

Grunkemeyer, whose rise is quite similar to fellow Ohio native Drew Allar, will likely face a similar path to the field as the current Penn State QB. He arrives in State College in January, and will have the opportunity to sit and learn behind the established starter Allar in 2024.

James Franklin noted just how valuable the time in waiting can be for a young QB.

“I think there’s a reason why Drew threw 23 touchdown passes and one interception [this season]…I think being able to sit behind Sean [Clifford] and learn behind Sean was valuable,” he said. “When I was with the Green Bay Packers, and we had Brett Favre, and we drafted Aaron Rodgers that year, I think a big part of Aaron Rodgers’ success was he was able to sit behind Brett, learn from Brett, what Brett did well, what he would do differently.”

But that doesn’t mean that Ethan Grunkemeyer will have it easy next season. Now that National Signing Day is over, the real work begins.

“So, I think, more times than not, there’s a ton of value in that [sitting a year],” Franklin said. “Now, does that mean that he won’t have a chance to come in and compete? No. We want him to come in and compete. We want all of our guys to come in and compete. But, worst-case scenario, if he doesn’t, if he can sit behind and learn for a year and then be competing for that following spring, then that’s not all bad, either.”

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