Ex-Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer Given Massive Praise Ahead of Virginia Tech Season

I don't think there is any ill will towards former Penn State head coach James Franklin or his future at Virginia Tech, but I also don't think it's crazy to say that most Penn State fans are hoping he has similar success to what he found with the Nittany Lions. Maybe some of them are okay with Franklin playing a big part in Virginia Tech turning things around and doing well, as long as it doesn't play as well as Penn State.

For that to happen, the Nittany Lions and their fan base will likely need some of Virginia Tech's top transfer portal additions not to play as well as expected. One of them is former Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who some think could actually have an impressive year with Franklin, given the light schedule his team is expected to face in the ACC.

“One of the bigger names on the list, Ethan Grunkemeyer, followed Franklin and quarterback coach Danny O’Brien to Virginia Tech to be the starting quarterback. In Grunkemeyer’s seven games as a starter last season, he continued showing growth, culminating in a career-high 260-yard performance in the Nittany Lions’ Pinstripe Bowl win against Clemson. Grunkemeyer does have some competition at quarterback in Blacksburg — Franklin added former 4-star North Carolina quarterback Bryce Baker and true freshman Troy Huhn has impressed — but he’s the likely starter for the Hokies’ Week 1 game against VMI.

“With a relatively light schedule, Grunkemeyer could produce at a high level in Franklin’s first year at Virginia Tech,” Andrew Deal of the PSU Collegian wrote on Tuesday.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Grunkemeyer have a decent year. 

He proved at Penn State a year ago that he can be an above-average player, and he did so against much better Big Ten competition. The only thing I kind of question here is whether he's ready to be a full-time starting quarterback or not.