James Franklin discusses dynamics of quarterback competition

Penn State head coach James Franklin has not had to worry about the quarterback position for the last few seasons with Sean Clifford entrenched as the starting quarterback for four years. But that is not the case anymore.

Clifford’s eligibility is out and now Franklin has to choose from one of three quarterbacks on his roster as the next starter. None of them have spent more than a year on campus. They are sophomore Drew Allar, redshirt freshman Beau Pribula and true freshman Jaxon Smolik.

When asked about the possibility of looking to the transfer portal to add some age to the room, Franklin said the team would consider but are happy with how the room is looking.

“In a perfect world, you’d love to have a little bit more experience and a little bit more age in that room,” Franklin said. “But at the end of the day, it’s about talent, and I think we’re talented in that room. I think the challenge of the transfer portal — I think you can do it and I think there’s some options that we can look at and are still open to — but I wouldn’t say based on how that room looks that may be its attractive to a lot of the quarterbacks out there that we would want to bring in.

“We’ll see how that thing plays out but you never know. We’d be we’d be open obviously at every single position to try to bringing some guys in.”

James Franklin said he thinks his young quarterbacks are up to the challenge.

Drew Allar is the heavy favorite to win the job. The backup to Clifford this past season, expectations are very high surrounding the former five-star recruit.

He was the No. 28 overall recruit and No. 3 quarterback in the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 ranked him as the No. 7 player and No. 2 quarterback in the 2022 On300 ranking. Ohio State‘s Devin Brown was the lone quarterback ranked ahead of Allar.

James Franklin said that while the job is open, Drew Allar would take the first reps at quarterback during practice to start.

“I think obviously, across the board, we would say that there is a clean slate to a degree; that there’s going to be competition kind of across the board at all these positions,” Franklin said. “But as you know, we’re going to have to put somebody out there first. Based on how the season ended and Drew’s role last year, then that would be him.

“But we’re going to need both of those guys, specifically Pribula and Allar — it’s too early to speak on Smolik — but we’re going to need both of those guys not only competing but also taking on a significant leadership role. No one cares that they’re young. They’re in that position, and a big part of that position is leadership. I thought Sean did a great job with that. For us, I don’t want them to go from zero to 100 just kind of start to work into that role and take responsibility and have a plan and be intentional, like everything else we do. But I think I think Drew and Beau are ready for that.”