Penn State's football landscape has been undergoing significant changes since the NCAA Transfer Portal window opened nearly a week ago. One key contributor to the Nittany Lions is now set to make a notable departure. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported that quarterback Beau Pribula is "expected" to enter the transfer portal. Pribula, a redshirt sophomore with two years of eligibility remaining, has left an indelible mark on the team.

Penn State's Quarterback Transfer: A Game-Changer for the Program

Beau Pribula's Impact on Penn State Football

During his time with the team, Pribula has shown remarkable skills and contributions. He completed 26 of 35 passes (74.3%) for 275 yards and five touchdowns with one interception in all 13 games this fall. He also rushed 38 times for 242 yards (6.4 yards per carry) and four touchdowns. Pribula was often used as a change-of-pace quarterback or in specific packages, sharing the field with starter Drew Allar in certain situations.However, he got the chance to lead the offense himself when Allar was injured late in the first half at Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Pribula played almost the entire second half and finished the game 11-of-13 passing for 98 yards and a touchdown, along with six rushes for 28 yards on the ground. His performance during that time demonstrated his ability to step up in crucial moments.

Pribula's Journey with Penn State

Over the past three years, Pribula has been a part of the Penn State program. He committed to the team in August 2020 out of York (Pa.) Central York. During this time, he worked with three different offensive coordinators - Kirk Ciarrocca, Mike Yurcich for two seasons, and Andy Kotelnicki. He was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and ranked as the No. 14 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 27 quarterback in the Class of 2022.In his three years with the program, Pribula completed 37 of 56 passes (66.1%) for 424 yards and nine touchdowns with one interception. He rushed 94 times for 571 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. He appeared in 24 games, all in the past two seasons.

The Implications for Penn State's Quarterback Room

With Pribula's departure, Penn State's quarterback room now faces a new dynamic. The other scholarship quarterbacks on the roster are junior Drew Allar with one year of eligibility remaining, redshirt freshman Jaxon Smolik who didn't play this season due to a spring injury, and freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer who also didn't play but received rave reviews for his practice performance. Penn State signed three-star quarterback Bekkem Kritza out of Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep in the Class of 2025. The coaching staff will need to navigate these changes and determine the best way forward for the team's quarterback position.Penn State's upcoming games, such as the first-round playoff match against No. 11-seed SMU at Beaver Stadium on Dec. 21 (noon ET, TNT/MAX), will be a test for the remaining quarterbacks. They will need to step up and fill the void left by Pribula's departure.