Penn State's James Franklin on timing of Beau Pribula's transfer: 'We’ve got problems in college football'

Finding a Penn State player or coach who has uttered a single bad thing about quarterback Beau Pribula would be a difficult task.

Pribula, through three seasons in State College, had the respect of teammates and coaches because of his attitude, work ethic and athletic abilities.

But Sunday night, Pribula took to social media platform X to announce he’d be hitting the transfer portal, less than a week before Penn State hosts SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Coach James Franklin devoted a considerable chunk of his news conference Monday to the array of factors that made Pribula feel as if transferring now was his best course of action.

“We’ve got problems in college football,” Franklin said. “And I can give you my word — Beau Pribula did not want to leave our program, and he did not want to leave our program until the end of the season.

"Beau Pribula did not want to leave our program... To have a transfer portal/free agency going on right in the middle of the playoffs... We need somebody running college football."

James Franklin calls for a CFB Commissioner after backup QB leaves during playoffs ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SRRdeIMHc0

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 16, 2024

“But the way the portal is and the timing of it and the way our team is playing, and when you play the position of quarterback and there’s only one spot and those spots are filling up, he felt like he was put in a no-win situation, and I agree with him.”

On X, Pribula said that “the overlapping CFP playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision.”

pic.twitter.com/3BYi7jtG2m

— Beau Pribula (@beauprib) December 16, 2024

The current winter portal window began Dec. 9 and closes Dec. 28.

College programs across the country usually begin their offseason weightlifting routines in January, coinciding with the beginning of the spring academic semester.

For Pribula, an already tight timeline to communicate with suitors and embark on campus visits was exacerbated by the need to remain fully devoted to Penn State’s on-field preparations for the College Football Playoff.

As backup to Drew Allar and someone who factors into several wrinkles of coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s offense, Pribula’s weekly responsibilities are not light.

But Franklin understood Pribula’s ultimate decision.

“He’s a man’s man,” Franklin said. “Like, came into my office, had multiple conversations with me about this process. … To have a transfer portal/free agency going on right in the middle of the playoffs, there’s just a lot of things that don’t really make sense.”

Allar announcing his intention to return to Penn State likely factored into Pribula’s decision to leave, while on the recruiting front, the Nittany Lions recently signed Bekkem Kritza as part of their Class of 2025.

This year, Pribula appeared in all of Penn State’s 13 games, completing 26 of 35 passes (74.1%) for 275 yards, five touchdowns and an interception.

On the ground, Pribula added 260 yards on 38 carries, scoring four more times.

“I would recruit him every year,” Franklin said. “Knowing everything I know right now, I’d go back and recruit the heck out of Beau. Beau grew up wanting to come to Penn State his whole life. This is his dream school, and he had a phenomenal career here. I just want everybody to understand that, most importantly.”

Allar admitted that quarterback meetings with him, Kotelnicki plus freshmen Ethan Grunkmeyer and Jaxon Smolik will feel different minus Pribula.

On a more personal level, Allar will simply miss the presence of a close friend.

“We came in together, we’ve been here for three years together and I wish Beau nothing but the best,” Allar said. “He’s been a great teammate to not only me but the entire team, as well. One of the hardest workers on our team. He’s going to do really well wherever he ends up. I’m hoping for the best for him because he deserves it.”

As for what Pribula leaving means for Penn State’s depth chart vs. SMU and beyond, Franklin said Grunkmeyer and Smolik will factor in but did not name a new No. 2 quarterback.

Smolik only recently became healthy and available because of an injury that sidelined him for most of the fall.

While Grunkmeyer hasn’t appeared in a game this year, Franklin noted he’s been a recipient of hundreds of practice reps.

If one of the backups unexpectedly were to be needed this postseason, they are hopeful Allar’s mentorship would help make up for inexperience.

“Having Drew as a leader in that room is a huge deal for us,” Kotelnicki said. “The way he goes about his business is awesome for anybody of any age to observe and see.”