Matt Campbell addresses Penn State's plan at QB, where Ethan Grunkemeyer stands

Of the things to do for a new head coach in college football, finding who his quarterback is going to be has to be high on the list. That’s the case now for Matt Campbell as he takes over at Penn State, with him maybe already having a head start with who’s still in Happy Valley.

In a sit-down with Josh Pate after his introduction yestersday with the Nittany Lions, Campbell discussed his plans for the quarterback position at Penn State. That included a reference to QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, who he has a prior relationship with from having recruited him while he was at Iowa State, as a possible option for his first season in University Park.

“Yeah, well, the great thing is we get to meet with Ethan here this week,” Campbell said. “And, you know, we actually recruited him out of high school, and have got a really strong relationship from that beginning process.”

After the season-ending injury to QB Drew Allar, Grunkemeyer, who just finished his redshirt freshman season as a former four-star and top-ten quarterback in his class, started over the back half of the season, making six starts in nine total appearances for Penn State. He would be 100-144 (69.4%) for 1,079 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions in total on the year. He then was 92-133 (69.2%) for 974 passing yards, averaging 162.3 per game, with five of the touchdowns with the four picks in those starts, including improving up to 75.3% completion for 736 passing yards, averaging 184 per game, with four touchdowns and only one pick over the final four games, of which the team won three.

Grunkemeyer could decide to stay under this new tenure at Penn State. However, even if he doesn’t, Campbell is committed to having the right quarterback, with him having had some notable names over his time in Ames like a Brock Purdy or a Rocco Becht. That’s as it’s a very important position in his program specifically, as he needs them to be an extension of him on the field in order to accomplish what they want to.

“I think, globally, you’ve got to look at our program, and the quarterback piece of it is critical because I still think, whoever is going to be the quarterbacks in our program, they have to be aligned to the head football coach,” said Campbell. “I believe, when the quarterback and the head football coach are aligned in their values, how they’re going to lead the locker room, what they’re going to stand for, then I think great things can happen.”

The quarterback for Campbell’s first season there may or may not even be on the roster right now at Penn State. They won’t know, though, until they really get started, which begins with meeting with the current players still in the program right now, as they’ll go from there.

“For us, we start with the individual meetings with the young men in our program, and then we make great evaluation of what’s best for us as we move this football program forward,” said Campbell.