Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1512721
5 6 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M T here's been a lot of talk in recent weeks about the decision by Penn State head coach James Franklin to fire offensive coordinator Mike Yur- cich one day after the Nittany Lions struggled to get anything going in the passing or running game in a 24-15 loss to Michigan on Nov. 11. Naturally, most of that discussion has centered on the team's three scholar- ship quarterbacks, who were coached by graduate assistant Danny O'Brien for the final two games of the regular season. But Yurcich also played a big role in helping Penn State earn a verbal commitment from Ethan Grunkemeyer, one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 recruiting cycle. When the Nittany Lions extended their offer to Grunkemeyer in March, only a handful of Power Five schools had done likewise. The Lewis Center, Ohio, native was a three-star prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking at the time and wasn't arousing a lot of national interest. After committing to Penn State in May, however, Grunkemeyer showed everyone just how good he really is. He impressed scouts at every camp he attended over the summer, turning in a series of performances that earned him an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles. There, he finished third in On3's top-performer list. Grunkemeyer went on to lead Olen- tangy High to an 11-2 record this past fall. His high school career ended with a 37-24 loss to Springfield in the Re- gion 2 semifinals of the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs. He completed 66.3 percent of his pass attempts as a senior, throwing for 3,517 yards, with 39 touchdowns and 9 in- terceptions. Now, Grunkemeyer is not only a con- sensus four-star prospect but also is listed eighth overall at the quarterback position in the On3 Industry Ranking. He's a very important prospect for Penn State's program moving forward, which is why his assessment of the Nittany Lions' coaching situation is a significant part of this ongoing story. To get a better feel for where Grunke- Four-Star Ohio Quarterback Reaffirms Commitment To Lions RYA N S N Y D E R | RYA N . S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M During his senior season at Olentangy High, Grunkemeyer threw for 3,517 yards and 39 touchdowns, while adding 3 scores on the ground. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER I N T E R V I E W E T H A N G R U N K E M E Y E R