Penn State QB has ‘stepped up entire game’ this spring

Penn State football is debuting its new offense this weekend during the annual Blue-White Game. New coordinator Andy Kotelnicki likely won’t show much of his playsheet on Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium, but we will catch a glimpse of what the Nittany Lions hope to be in 2024. Beau Pribula, for one, is excited to show what he can do in the new system. Speaking to the media as spring practice comes to a close this week, the Penn State QB feels like he’s stepping into his own under Kotelnicki.

Pribula: “I’ve stepped up my entire game” this spring

Drew Allar may head into the 2024 season as the starter, but Beau Pribula figures to play a significant role for the Nittany Lions this fall.

Pribula provided a valuable spark for an offense that struggled at times in 2023, throwing for 149 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing 329 yards with six scores. When Allar went down with an injury against Rutgers, the York native stepped in as the primary Penn State QB, leading three consecutive scoring drives in a 27-6 win.

Now in 2024, the spark might just turn into a burning flame. Speaking to the media ahead of the Blue-White Game this week, Beau Pribula says he feels good about where his game is this spring.

“This entire spring, I think I’ve kind of stepped up my entire game,” the Penn State QB said. “I’m a lot more confident. I’m really comfortable out there. I think my leadership role has increased. “I feel really comfortable going through my progressions and hanging in the pocket and making some downfield throws. And then once the pocket collapses, getting out and not just running, but kind of extending the line of scrimmage and finding people downfield at the last second.

“I think it’s not something that I’m really trying to do. It’s just something that came with comfort. And as I have been here for a while, I can kind of open up my entire game.”

New offense, Andy Kotelnicki a perfect fit for the Penn State QB

The hire of Andy Kotelnicki is one that carries high expectations in Happy Valley. A mind James Franklin says is the most similar to Joe Moorhead since the former offensive coordinator left Penn State in 2017, there’s much anticipation about what a QB with a skillset like Beau Pribula could do in Kotelnicki’s system.

Despite installing a new system this spring, there don’t appear to be many snags for Pribula so far.

“First of all, I had a ton of fun this whole entire spring,” said Pribula, who threw for 92 yards in last year’s Blue-White Game. “This offense I think fits me really, really well. And it’s something I’ve become really comfortable with. A lot of the stuff that we do is kind of right up my alley. I think that’s something I’m really excited about, and I think the offense just fits me really well.”

For his part, Andy Kotelnicki has not shied away from indicating that there will be a role for Pribula in the Nittany Lions offense in 2024. “Any players that can help us win games on offense, we’ll find a way to use them,” he said last month.

Penn State football will take the field for the Blue-White Game Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.