Former Nittany Lion QB Christian Veilleux finds a new home
Former Penn State quarterback Christian Veilleux won’t have to go far for the next chapter of his college career. The redshirt sophomore, who entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Dec. 5, announced on Sunday evening that he’ll suit up in 2023 for the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Veilleux spent the 2022 season as Penn State’s third-string quarterback behind starter Sean Clifford and freshman Drew Allar. He made a splash as a true freshman, taking over for an illness-stricken Clifford against Rutgers in 2021 and leading the Nittany Lions to a home win over the Scarlet Knights. Allar, a five-star freshman from Ohio, beat him out for the backup job in camp in August, however.
Pittsburgh accepted a commitment from former Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec, a Pittsburgh-area native, on Dec. 5 and he’s expected to start for the Panthers upon arrival. Veilleux has three years of eligibility remaining and is seemingly in line to take over as the starter in 2024. He is the second Nittany Lion to transfer to its traditional rival in the Transfer Portal era, as linebacker John Petrishen finished his career under head coach Pat Narduzzi in 2021.
Veilleux threw three touchdown passes at Penn State
At Penn State, Veilleux completed 23 of 35 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns, all of which came in the win over Rutgers. He was a three-star prospect and the No. 35 quarterback nationally in the Class of 2021. James Franklin highlighted Veilleux as a consummate teammate when he was asked about him last month.
“Yeah, he’s been phenomenal,” Franklin said in November. “He really has. I think that whole quarterback room has been great. I think Sean has kind of set the tone for that whole room. But Christian has been phenomenal.
“But I think Veilleux has been phenomenal. His attitude has been great. He’s been great in meetings. He’s totally engaged. We’ve been rotating those guys down to the scout team. They’ve been awesome down there. He’s been great. His body language, his demeanor, his leadership, his attention to detail, the way he’s preparing as if he’s the starter, has been really good. So, those types of things specifically at those positions, I think are really important.”
Veilleux signed with Penn State in the Class of 2021
A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Veilleux played his high school football at The Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, after transferring from Canisius High School in Buffalo. He was named the 2019 Interstate Athletic Conference Player of the Year. As a junior, he led his team to the IAC Championship game. He completed 118 of his 232 passes for 2,006 passing yards, while tossing in 29 touchdown passes. His team did not play in 2020 when Veilleux was a senior.
Penn State will have three quarterbacks on scholarship in the spring semester. In addition to Allar, freshman Beau Pribula redshirted in his first year on campus. Iowa signal-caller Jaxon Smolik will join the room in January as an early enrollee.
