Penn State football's backup quarterback situation is up in the air ahead of Indiana
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The quarterback situation for Penn State football has been an adventure since Drew Allar’s season-ending injury.
Ethan Grunkemeyer has been the starter the last two games, but Andy Kotelnicki has employed both Jaxson Smolik and wide receiver Liam Clifford for snaps as well.
Now, with Indiana coming to State College and Smolik still recovering from his injury, the picture is not only unlcear, it’s almost nonexistent.
“Smolik is still week-to-week,” interim head coach Terry Smith said during Wednesday’s media availability. “We’re hoping we can get him back; we’re not quite sure.
“I’m sure you guys recognized Bekkem Kritza wasn’t out there today. He’s sick. There’s a little bug going around, and couple of guys on the team are sick. We’re just trying to nurse them back.”
Kritza, the true freshman quarterback from Chandler, Ariz., and Chaminade Prep, has yet to appear in a game this season, but with Smolik’s availability in question, he could potentially be QB2 for the Nittany Lions against the Hoosiers if he can play.
Then there’s Clifford, who, much to the surprise of the fanbase, took snaps and attempted a pass against Ohio State after (not suprsingly) not attempting a pass in his previous four years on the roster.
Smith was asked about Clifford, who was spotted hanging around the quarterbacks, and he responded with a smirk saying “Yeah, he might be some secret sauce or something like that.”
Penn State hopes that Grunkemeyer stays upright to where the backup quarterback doesn’t matter. But in the chance he goes down, even for a couple of plays, things may get chaotic for the Nittany Lion offense.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football prepares for Indiana without clear backup QB
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