QB guru lauds physical talents of newest Penn State football commit

Penn State football has built a recruiting pipeline that runs through prominent quarterback whisper Brad Maendler. The Ohio-based passing coach who has helped shape Drew Allar and Ethan Grunkemeyer before their arrivals in Happy Valley now has another future Nittany Lion to add to his resume: Peyton Falzone.

The four-star Nazareth (PA) quarterback became the Nittany Lions’ newest commitment with his pledge on Saturday evening. One of the most highly-touted passers in the class of 2026, Falzone’s talents even stand out to his veteran trainer.

“In my 18 years of QB training, I’ve had so many good ones, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a QB who’s as physically talented as 2026 Nazareth QB Peyton Falzone,” Maendler wrote on X last month. “On top of those physical attributes is a top 1% drive/worth ethic to improve. Still a work in progress, but VERY excited about where things are headed!”

In my 18 years of QB training, I’ve had so many good ones but I don’t think I’ve ever had a QB who’s as physically talented as 2026 Nazareth (PA) QB Peyton Falzone.

On top of those physical attributes is a top 1% drive/work ethic to improve. Still a work in progress but VERY… pic.twitter.com/jz68N69Sp8

— Brad Maendler (@BradMaendler) March 16, 2025

A dual-threat quarterback, Falzone has over 4,600 passing and more than 1,100 rushing yards in his two years as a high school starter. In that time, he’s thrown 42 touchdown passes to just eight interceptions while adding 19 scores on the ground.

The offensive MVP for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference last fall, Falzone is rated the No. 11 quarterback and No. 177 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports.

Maendler has helped cultivate a top-10 passer in two of the last four recruiting classes for Penn State, including Allar, the top quarterback in 2022. Now headed for a position room with a pair of talented mentors ahead of him, the only place for Falzone to go is up.

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