This Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback has opened up on new head coach Matt Campbell.
The Penn State Nittany Lions plucked Matt Campbell from Iowa State earlier this month, landing one of the most intriguing rising coaches in the country.
Penn State had spent the previous 12-plus seasons with James Franklin at the helm before firing him midway through the 2025 campaign, and Campbell seems like a breath of fresh air.
Nittany Lions players are already excited about Campbell leading their team, and that includes a quarterback that Campbell heavily recruited at Iowa State: Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Grunkemeyer took over as Penn State's starter following Drew Allar's season-ending injury this past season, and he appears to be the favorite to be under center in Happy Valley next year.
The upcoming redshirt sophomore is definitely familiar with Campbell, and he seems happy to have him aboard.
“I’ve met with him a couple times now, and since recruiting, I’ve always had a really good impression of him," Grunkemeyer said, via StateCollege.com. "I know the culture he’s built at Iowa State, and I really liked that from recruiting. I think it’ll carry over here really well. So, just a really good impression. I like how he handles the program, and I like what he’s about as a coach and as a person.”
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer. Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images.Campbell is also sure to court former Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht, who entered the transfer portal following Campbell's departure.
But considering that Becht had a very disappointing campaign this past season, Campbell may choose to move forward with Grunkemeyer.
Grunkemeyer threw for 1,079 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 69.4 percent of his passes in six starts this year.
The former four-star recruit landed at Penn State in 2024 and sat behind Allar for the entire season, but now that Allar is out eligibility, Grunkemeyer seems likely to take center stage.
The Nittany Lions were viewed as national championship contenders heading into 2025, but they went just 6-6 on the year. They will face the Clemson Tigers in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday.
We'll see if Campbell — who went 72-55 across 10 years at Iowa State — can turn Penn State around and whether or not Grunkemeyer becomes an integral part of the process.