James Franklin explains why Penn State is being intentional with getting live reps for Beau Pribula
Penn State is out to a 4-0 start but hasn’t had a ton of opportunities to really open things up such that it could get backup quarterback Beau Pribula involved.
He’s gotten some action, but coach James Franklin would like to get to more of what he has in the playbook for the redshirt freshman.
“He’s got a bigger package than what you’ve seen to this point,” Franklin told reporters on Tuesday. “But I’ve been pleased with him. He’s another guy that prepares really well. Kind of emotionally steady Eddie, doing a really good job of protecting the ball. We’ve got to continue to do that.”
Pribula ranks third on the team in rushing at this point, tallying 166 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. He’s had less work in the passing game, going 5-of-12 passing for 45 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
But the fact that he’s playing says a lot.
“We’ve been very intentional, very much like we were last year with Drew (Allar) in making sure we’re going to get Beau these reps,” Franklin said. “Also I don’t know if you’ve noticed, sometimes we’re putting him in a series before we’ve really made a change, allowing him to be in with the majority of the ones still, because we think that’s important. And then after that series, then make some more changes.”
Penn State wants to get to the point where Beau Pribula is doing more than just running, his primary use case at the moment.
“We’d like to get him involved more in a situation where he can actually run our offense, because I think right now he’s being used primarily as a runner. But we feel like we can run the whole offense with him. But a lot of that is because of four-minute offense as well, and is something he also does well. So kind of allows us to do both. Gain a hat in the run game, four minute and play to one of his strengths. But I do think it’s important that we continue to grow those other elements.
“He’s getting it in practice a lot, obviously, but I think it’s been really good, but we want to continue to develop that. Then there’s obviously a place for getting him in situationally throughout the game as well. Maybe in the red zone or maybe in third down or maybe as a change-up. We had a play we were going to run yesterday and it was during a timeout and I kind of vetoed it at the last minute.”
The next two weeks may provide some more opportunities for Beau Pribula to get some run.
Penn State is set to take on Northwestern on the road, then UMass at home. That might be just the ticket to get Pribula more involved in the package he’s got.
At the very least, Franklin wants other teams accounting for him.
“We’re pleased with him and I know talking to our defensive coaches and talking to some of our analysts, we feel like he’s a weapon that defensive coordinators and head coaches are spending time on,” Franklin said. “OK, yeah, he’s just being used right now at the end of the game, but you’ve seen enough of him that everybody knows at some point you’re going to have to be prepared for him during regular time. I think it’s been good and he’s been good.”