Penn State Loss Spells Good News for Virginia Tech’s James Franklin

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Penn State has its new starting quarterback for the 2026 season in Rocco Becht, but won’t have Ethan Grunkemeyer as a depth option.

Grunkemeyer entered the transfer portal on Friday, and it didn’t take long for him to find his next home. According to Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer of CBS Sports, Grunkemeyer is expected to reunite with James Franklin and transfer to Virginia Tech.

On3’s Pete Nakos later confirmed Zenitz and Hummer’s report.

Grunkemeyer started the final seven games of the 2025 season for Penn State and finished the year with 1,339 yards through the air, eight touchdowns and four interceptions.

Grunkemeyer will also reunite with Ty Howle, Virginia Tech’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, and Danny O’Brien, Virginia Tech’s quarterback coach. Both left Penn State to join Franklin at Virginia Tech after the latter was hired.

Virginia Tech has needed a new starting quarterback since Kyron Drones is out of eligibility, and Pop Watson entered the transfer portal.

Grunkemeyer is a former four-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class and was the fifth-best recruit in Ohio, per 247Sports Composite rankings. He was also the seventh-ranked quarterback in the country and the No. 105 overall recruit.

He will try to help turn around a Virginia Tech football program that won only three games this season. Virginia Tech hasn’t had a 10-win season since 2016, which was Justin Fuente’s first year as head coach. He was later fired during the 2021 season.

The Hokies hired Franklin on Nov. 17 after he was fired by the Nittany Lions earlier in the 2025 season.

Related: Matt Campbell, Penn State Lose QB to College Football Transfer Portal

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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