Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541276
1 8 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Think back to August, when Penn State fans and media members alike were making their predictions for the 2025 season. Almost everyone was focused on how deep this team could go in the College Football Playoff. None of the talk was negative. However, injuries can derail any sea- son, especially if they occur at a vul- nerable spot … like the quarterback position. Penn State has lost its starter, senior Drew Allar, to a season-ending ankle injury, and it has seen its depth eroded with the loss of redshirt sopho- more Jaxon Smolik to an apparent left arm injury. Heading into its game against Indiana on Nov. 8, Penn State had only one fully healthy scholarship quarterback — red- shirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, who became the team's starter after Allar was hurt against Northwestern on Oct. 11. In addition to Smolik's uncertain sta- tus, true freshman Bekkem Kritza has been slowed by an upper-body injury that hindered his development earlier this year, and he's also been battling an illness more recently. Due to all those health setbacks, quar- terbacks coach Danny O'Brien has had to improvise. One of the steps he's taken has been to give redshirt senior receiver Liam Clifford some snaps at quarter- back. O'Brien recently spoke to reporters about the challenges that his embattled position group has had to face this sea- son. QUESTION: Where is Bekkem Kritza from a game-readiness standpoint? O'BRIEN: "Life came at Bekkem pretty quickly with our injury situation. Being a true freshman, he's been attack- ing it. It's a never-ending quest to get these young kids ready. Obviously, that sped up very quickly, particularly coming off the injury that he had, having been out for a while, but he's been attacking it. He's earlier in his development stage, so it's our job to find out … what gives us the best chance to move the ball for- ward, and that [depends on] what he can handle physically and mentally. "The goal for him, as I tell him every day, is for that to grow daily. He is where he is. When we watch game film with him, it's practice film starting from the ground up. He's improving daily, and it's our job to find out, if he's in the game, what does he do well to give us a chance to move the ball and score points?" QUESTION: How much time has Liam Clifford spent with the quarter- backs, and what made him the right guy for that role? O'BRIEN: "He's a super high-IQ kid. He's spending a good bit of time with us [at quarterback]. He can do a lot. You saw him take snaps [at Ohio State] and line up and play receiver. Had a big third- down conversion for us. We're very for- tunate to have him on our team, given the injuries we've had in the room. He's just a guy who's able to do a lot mentally. He played quarterback in high school, which I think factors in, just the comfort of snapping a football and catching it and meshing with the running back, as simple as that might sound. "He's a great kid, and we're very for- tunate we have him on the team to help with us right now. And, yeah, he'll do whatever is asked of him. He's always been that way." QUESTION: Can you evaluate Ethan Grunkemeyer's play so far? O'BRIEN: "The results as a team are not what we wanted. You want to go in and win every game. But for a redshirt freshman who was making his first two starts on the road against two of the bet- ter defenses in the country, there were a lot of really good things to build on each week. … We talk in our room all the time of preparing like you're the starter. Cer- tainly, there are things to work on, but he's very talented. "There were no pre-snap operational penalties. There were no mental errors. He's been super impressive, and he's re- ally embodied staying ready so that you don't have to get ready. He expects to play well. There are things to improve on, but he's a talented kid with a bright future for sure." QUESTION: What's it been like hav- ing Drew Allar around the team following his ankle surgery? O'BRIEN: "I think it's been a win-win having Drew back after the surgery. … To have a veteran [who can] help guide Grunk, that's invaluable. And Drew be- ing back around the guys and being in- volved and adding value is good for his spirits." Sitting Down With Quarterbacks Coach Danny O'Brien O'Brien has been pleased with the role that injured senior Drew Allar has continued to play in helping prepare Penn State's quarterbacks for game day. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS