New Penn State head coach Matt Campbell will have a few different decisions to make over the next few weeks and months, mainly involving the transfer portal.
Reports indicate that Penn State has allocated $30 million to its football program’s NIL fund, which should put the program in the top five to 10 nationally in that area.
Everything seems more than promising for the Nittany Lions, as they should have more than enough money to spend on top-tier talent in the transfer portal.
When it comes to Campbell’s most significant decisions, figuring out the long-term quarterback solution should be at the top of the list.
Some have suggested that Ethan Grunkemeyer could return, but Grunkemeyer has been on record saying he still needs to figure out what the future looks like in Happy Valley.
If Grunkemeyer gets a better opportunity elsewhere, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go in a different direction.
When discussing what this could mean for the program, PennLive’s Johnny McGonigal stated that Rocco Becht, Iowa State’s quarterback under Campbell, could be an option for Penn State to pursue.
“There hasn’t been any reporting on Campbell bringing his quarterback with him. But it would make sense if Iowa State’s Rocco Becht joined his coach in Happy Valley. Becht was a three-year starter for the Cyclones, compiling a 26-13 record, completing 60.8% of his passes and accumulating 9,209 yards, 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He can also run a bit; he racked up 434 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns over the last two years...
“Landing Becht likely means Grunkemeyer leaves. After Grunkemeyer started six games, it would be difficult to get him to accept a backup role. While some Penn State fans would love to have both, that feels like wishful thinking,” he wrote.
Becht wouldn’t be a massive upgrade by any means, but he can get the job done.
I’m not the biggest fan of Grunkemeyer, so I don’t think bringing Becht in would be the worst idea.
That said, there will likely be other quarterbacks on the market who are better options, so going in a different direction wouldn’t be a bad idea either.