It’s not a secret that the quarterback position has some of the highest expectations in football. For Penn State football, Drew Allar carried the bulk of those expectations last season. He will continue to do so in 2024, but now, early enrollee and the newest Nittany Lion quarterback, Ethan Grunkemeyer, will begin to carry expectations, starting with spring practice. The duo have the shared experience of making the jump to college early, and both have the guidance of the same quarterback guru, Brad Maendler. Now, Drew Allar is sharing his thoughts on how Grunkemeyer has handled himself during this spring.
Drew Allar provides spring practice analysis on Ethan Grunkemeyer
Penn State football and Drew Allar did not end the 2023 season on a high note with the Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss. However, that has not stopped Allar from having a sense of optimism heading into the 2024 season. On Wednesday, Allar spoke to the media on a variety of football-related topics. But his update on the progress of fellow quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer this spring stood out.
“He’s done a lot of good things,” Allar said. “I think he’s learning on the fly right now. He’s doing a good job of handling everything and doing a good job of being prepared for everything. He’s asking good questions throughout our quarterback meetings.
“Obviously, he’s going through that transition. He should be in high school now, but he early enrolled. And he’s delivering the ball on time, and he’s learning from the reps where he maybe made a mistake. He knows now the difference between college defenses and high school defense. It’s really cool to see that natural progression from practice one until practice nine, and he definitely has a bright future ahead of him.”
Allar and Grunkemeyer share the same quarterback trainer
While the transition from high school to college is challenging for the average person, it can be twice as hard for an athlete. But in this case, it helps that Ohio natives Ethan Grunkemeyer and Drew Allar share a common connection and pre-existing relationship through quarterback guru Brad Maendler.
The two have been seen in plenty of workout videos posted by Brad Maendler, who has been by both of their sides for years now. Allar, who has walked in Grunkemeyer’s shoes, now has the chance to be the veteran voice of reason for a freshman who is still learning the ropes.
We will get to see this dynamic up close and personal next week when Penn State football is back inside Beaver Stadium for the annual Blue-White Game. Make sure to follow along with Basic Blues Nation for spring game updates.
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