Penn State QB Beau Pribula to enter transfer portal

It appears that Penn State football will head into the College Football Playoff after suffering a significant setback in its quarterback room. According to reports Sunday night, Nittany Lions backup quarterback Beau Pribula is now expected to enter the transfer portal.

Matt Zenitz of 247Sports was the first to report the news. A redshirt sophomore, Pribula would have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Pribula confirmed the news on social media shortly thereafter.

“Growing up in Pennsylvania, it has always been a dream of mine to play football for Penn State,” he wrote. “Wearing the Blue & White these last three years has brought me some of the greatest moments of my life.

“The current NCAA post-season model creates a challenge for student-athletes. The overlapping CFB playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision. After speaking at length with my family and coaches, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my intentions to enter the transfer portal and depart from the team to explore opportunities elsewhere.”

pic.twitter.com/3BYi7jtG2m

— Beau Pribula (@beauprib) December 16, 2024

A top 15 quarterback in the 2022 cycle, Pribula arrived in Happy Valley alongside current Nittany Lions starter Drew Allar. Providing a valuable dual-threat spark to the offense, Pribula finishes his Penn State football career going 37-56 passing for 424 yards and nine touchdowns, along with 571 rushing yards and 10 scores.

The heir apparent for the starting position once Allar takes his final snaps as a Nittany Lion, Pribula’s decision raises questions about the Penn State quarterback room heading into 2025. With rumors of Allar’s potential return for a fourth and final season persisting for weeks, Sunday night’s news seem to indicate that those reports could end up becoming as reality.

© Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2024.

However, if Allar does not return to Penn State football next fall, James Franklin and Andy Kotelnicki will be forced to turn to a room of unproven young arms. Redshirt freshman Jaxon Smolik hasn’t appeared in live action since September of 2023, and is currently working back from a long term injury. True freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer has earned high marks in practice, but has yet to make his Nittany Lion debut.

Pribula’s departure also raises concerns about the room’s depth heading into the postseason. The York native has had to fill in for Allar several times over the last two years, including a second half comeback win at Wisconsin in October.

James Franklin will address the media for the first time this week on Monday afternoon. Penn State football hosts SMU in the opening round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday at noon.

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