Who plays quarterback for Penn State football after Ethan Grunkemeyer vs Michigan State?

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Penn State football will walk another quarterback tightrope in Saturday’s battle of six-game losing streaks in Spartan Stadium.

The Nittany Lions also may be without two of their top, young playmaking defenders, too.

The Lions will miss backup quarterbacks Jaxon Smolik and Bekkem Kritza, their last scholarship QBs on the roster, against Michigan State. Both are among an ever-growing list of top backups and promising younger players listed as “out” for the game on weekly Big Ten pregame availability report.

So while redshirt freshman QB Ethan Grunkemeyer will make his fourth collegiate start, his projected backup will be senior receiver Liam Clifford.

Neither the Lions or Spartans own a Big Ten victory yet this season.

Meanwhile, Penn State also will be without true freshman defensive end Chaz Coleman for the second straight week. Starting junior cornerback A.J. Harris is listed as “questionable” for Saturday’s game.

Coleman (6-foot-4, 246 pounds) has made his presence known in a big way in limited opportunities. He delivered an impressive strip-sack and return against Florida International, another fumble recovery and return last week at Ohio State and had a forced fumble overturned vs. Oregon.

The Lions also have played the entire season without promising defensive end Max Granville and have missed top back Jaylen Harvey to injury. Backup defensive ends Mason Robinson, Owen Wafle and Jordan Mayer also will miss the Michigan State game.

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Who plays quarterback for Penn State football at Michigan State?

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