As Penn State gears up for the 2025 football season, all eyes are on quarterback Drew Allar — the former five-star recruit from Medina, Ohio, who has become the face of the Nittany Lions’ offense. But while Allar’s rise has been well-documented, attention is now shifting toward who might be next in line — and whether that next man up could also hail from the Buckeye State.
Penn State has enjoyed a fruitful pipeline from Ohio in recent recruiting cycles, particularly at quarterback. Allar, once the No. 1 ranked QB in the 2022 class by some services, chose the Nittany Lions over offers from powerhouse programs, including his home-state Ohio State. Now, as Allar prepares for what could be his final season in State College — with NFL scouts watching closely — the question of his potential successor looms large.
Enter Ethan Grunkemeyer, a four-star quarterback from Lewis Center, Ohio, and a member of Penn State’s 2024 recruiting class. The Olentangy signal-caller made waves during his senior year, showing off a quick release, strong arm, and mature decision-making. He impressed further during national showcases and has been steadily climbing recruiting boards. Now enrolled at Penn State, Grunkemeyer is already making a push to earn the backup role.
Another name to watch is Bellefontaine (Ohio) standout Tavien St. Clair, a 2025 commit to Ohio State, but who was once on Penn State’s radar. While it’s unlikely the Nittany Lions will flip a Buckeye pledge, their ongoing interest in Ohio quarterbacks signals a trend: James Franklin and his staff continue to find value in the fertile recruiting grounds of their western neighbor.
With Allar’s Ohio roots setting the tone, Penn State may very well continue the Buckeye-to-Nittany Lion QB tradition — giving the Lions both talent and a bit of poetic symmetry in their quarterback room.
