James Franklin reveals where Penn State backup quarterback battle stands

With Drew Allar back for his senior year, Penn State is more so focused on its backup quarterback again when it comes to the position. The team has two options there with James Franklin liking where they’re both at through spring practice, as he expects that battle to continue.

Speaking to the media after practice on Wednesday, Franklin shared the latest on where that competition stands between Ethan Grunkemeyer and Jaxon Smolik. He said they each really are playing well this spring with that meaning it could “go on for a while” in determining the Nittany Lions’ QB2.

“Both of them are doing really well, um, and that’s not, that’s not coach speak, you know,” Franklin said. “They’re both doing very, very well so I think this is going to be a competition that’s going to go on for a while.”

That’s the case despite Smolik coming off of an unspecified injury where he didn’t play any last season as a redshirt freshman. He has been ahead of schedule, though, with where he’s positioning himself.

“Yeah, Jaxson has done a heck of a job. We didn’t really know, coming off injury, where he would be,” Franklin said. “I thought Jackson would come off the injury a little rusty. He has not been.”

Neither player has seen much action through their underclassman seasons to this point with Allar as the starter and Beau Pribula as the backup the past two years. Each has played just once in their careers as Smolik appeared against Delaware two seasons ago while Grunkemeyer appeared in one as a true freshman in their home playoff win this past season where he completed one of two throws for nine yards and threw an interception against SMU.

Grunkemeyer was the higher-rated addition over Smolik as far as recruiting the last two classes. Grunkemeyer was No. 108 as a four-star, which made him a top-ten quarterback, in 2024 while Smolik was No. 691 as a three-star, which made him a top-forty quarterback, in 2023.

Both Grunkemeyer and Lambert have done what they’ve needed to at this point of spring ball. They’ll each now try to add on to that in hopes of getting themselves into second on the eventual depth chart.

“Both of them are, are playing really well so we’ve got to, we’ve got to continue to build on that,” Franklin said.