Beau Pribula latest: Former Penn State QB still battling to secure top job at Missouri; Drinkwitz calls him 'a very talented passer'

One Penn State adjacent question that has come up more often than any other since the 2025 offseason began is a short one: How’s Beau Pribula doing? The former Nittany Lion quarterback and York native left the Lions before their College Football Playoff run started last December and ultimately ended up at Missouri. Since, updates out of Columbia have been few and far between beyond the standard spring updates regarding an ongoing quarterback battle. Pribula discussed a lot of his side of things recently on Adam Breneman’s podcast. Then, on Thursday at SEC Media Days, Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz offered the latest insight from his perspective on both Pribula and his team’s situation under center ahead of preseason camp.

Let’s start with his answer to a Pribula-specific question about the transfer portal evaluation process on a quarterback who had as few downfield passing attempts as the ex-Nittany Lion did in State College.

“When we first talk about recruits, it’s all about the right fit for us: Focused, intangibles, talent, and tough,” Drinkwitz said on an SEC Network live stream of his podium speech from Atlanta. “And when you talk about the quarterback position, there are five specific traits that we’re looking for. Beau had those traits. And then, as a program, and as an offense, you have to design to a quarterback’s strength.

“You watch the tape, there’s not an inability for Beau to throw. He just didn’t quite have the opportunities. And I would say, after this spring, I am as confident as ever that Beau Pribula is a very talented passer. So, I don’t really have any reservations about that.”

So is there actually a quarterback competition at Missouri that Pribula must win?

Drinkwitz insists that it is the case, even though the logic dictates that Missouri didn’t pluck Pribula out of the portal not to start. However, the head coach told local reporters that there is “100 percent” an ongoing battle, as one would expect him to. It consists of Pribula, returning redshirt junior Sam Horn, who was picked in the 17th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and one-time Penn State top target and Pa., native Matt Zollers, who the Tigers signed in the Class of 2025.

“We got three quarterbacks, all a little bit different, all with some very good strengths,” Drinkwitz said. “Sam Horn’s a guy who’s been in our system for a long time. Dual-threat player. Plays baseball at a high level. Is coming back from Tommy John surgery. I thought he had an outstanding bowl prep as he was rehabbing that and a really good spring. He’s really excelled in his maturation. He’s done a lot of good things. Understands the system.

“Beau came in with he right mindset. Nothing given and everything earned. Works extremely hard at developing his craft. He’s a guy who spends a lot of extra time up there. Has a chip on his shoulder, the right kind of chip. Does a really good job leadership-wise. Just impressed with his ability to connect with our team.

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“Matt Zollers, he throws it as well as any quarterback I’ve ever seen. He’s coming back from ankle surgery. You can tell he’s adjusting to the speed of college football. But very excited about that room. Whoever ends up emerging as the quarterback is going to be in a really good position because he doesn’t have to do it all by himself. He’s going to have a really good defense and great supporting cast around him.”

It’d be a surprise to many if Pribula isn’t taking the first snap when Missouri opens its 2025 season on Aug. 28 against Central Arkansas. But, for now, that’s the latest on the former Penn State passer as he continues to prep for his first preseason camp outside of State College.