Grunkemeyer brings Penn State experience to Virginia Tech's QB room

Virginia Tech enters the 2026 season with renewed optimism at quarterback, centered on redshirt sophomore Ethan Grunkemeyer. The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Ohio native transferred from Penn State after following head coach James Franklin and offensive coordinator Ty Howle to Blacksburg, and he is widely expected to be the Hokies' starter when the season opens.

Franklin has not formally named a starter, characterizing the process as a competition at every position — a standard posture for the coach. In practice, however, teammates and coaches alike understand that Grunkemeyer is the clear frontrunner. He did not follow Franklin across the country to serve as a backup.

Forged Under Pressure at Penn State

Grunkemeyer's path to the starting role was shaped by an unsettled 2025 season in Happy Valley. He began the year as Drew Allar's backup, but entered the lineup midseason after Allar was injured and Franklin was dismissed. Penn State stood at 3-3 at the time. Grunkemeyer's first three starts — two of them against Ohio State and Indiana — ended in losses, dropping the Nittany Lions to 3-6. He then guided Penn State to three straight victories, clinching bowl eligibility at 6-6. In the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson, he completed 23 of 34 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-10 victory.

I would say one thing is the leadership aspect of it. Had to lead through a tough situation. Some stuff that may have popped up that you didn't know when you weren't playing that may be tough. How you see something, having that knowledge going into it a year. I feel like having that experience has really helped me grow as a player, and in practice, being able to take game reps and kind of treat every practice rep like a game rep.

— Ethan Grunkemeyer

Virginia Tech's quarterback room behind Grunkemeyer carries its own depth. Redshirt freshman Bryce Baker — a four-star prospect who committed to North Carolina a year ago — is projected as the backup. Four-star freshman Troy Huhn, who enrolled in January, had a strong spring. Redshirt freshman Kelden Ryan, regarded as one of the program's top recruits from the previous cycle, rounds out the group.

The Hokies now hope Grunkemeyer can deliver a similar result in a Virginia Tech uniform. His Pinstripe Bowl performance came against the same Clemson program that appears on the Hokies' 2026 schedule, adding a layer of symmetry to his arrival in Blacksburg. For a program that has searched for stability at the position, his combination of experience and natural leadership has provided early confidence heading into camp.