Penn State Top 25 players for 2024, QB Beau Pribula (2024)

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Pribula played in 11 games last season but only attempted 21 passes, as it was primarily used as a change-of-pace runner on occasional downs. He finished the season third on the team in rushing yards with 329 on just 56 attempts for an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Pribula’s 329 yards were tied for ninth in a single season for a Penn State quarterback, and his six rushing touchdowns were tied for seventh.

The passing talents of Pribula are yet to be determined, and despite many calls for him to receive more chances to throw the ball last year, he only completed 11 passes, albeit four of them were for touchdowns. Perhaps Kotelnicki has something in mind for how to get the most out of Pribula because he looked dynamic on the field last year.

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Usually, there aren’t many questions regarding a team’s backup quarterback, but after last season’s offensive performance, how Beau Pribula will be used under Andy Kotelnicki is a huge question mark.

Last year, Pribula wasn’t used nearly enough for his effectiveness on the field when he did play, especially with an inconsistent offense. Kotelnicki is a creative, offensive mind and should be able to find various ways to put Pribula on the field.

It would be a massive disappointment if Pribula is only used like he was last year if the offense shows the same inconsistencies. Even if the offense improves dramatically, Pribula should be used more than last year in all aspects.

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2024 will be a success for Pribula if he sees the field more than last year and improves his throwing acumen to the point where opponents must respect that part of his game. His legs and ability to evade outside the pocket will always be his calling card, but if teams believe there is a chance he throws the ball when he comes in, his running ability will be much more lethal.

It is hard to precisely predict the stat profile of a backup quarterback because it mainly depends on how much they play. Pribula should have a similar output to last year, if not better, as I suspect Kotelnicki will use I’m a lot, especially in the red zone. If Allar struggles or the offense as a whole is uninspiring, expect Pribula to get a shot behind center for an extended period.

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A disappointing season for a backup quarterback is hard to pinpoint, but not as much when a player like Pribula holds the role. Typically, teams would love it if their backup quarterback never played a down because it likely means their offense is humming with the starter. Even if Penn State’s offense is a juggernaut and Allar is having a tremendous season, Pribula is still likely to see plenty of action with the skills he brings to the field.

It would be a disappointment if Pribula failed to fit in with the new offense and was unable to recreate the spark he created last season. However, it’s a doubtful proposition, considering Pribula’s talent and playstyle seem to fit like a glove with the new OC.

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Expect Penn State’s backup quarterback to be used similarly to last season but more often. He has already talked about how he loves the new offense and thinks it fits him exceptionally well. It will be exciting to see how Kotelnicki deploys Pribula as an offensive weapon, and he should see the field even more if Allar and the offense fail to get going.

A season with 15-20 total touchdowns is definitely doable, combined with around 400 rushing yards and a few hundred passing yards, which would be an excellent season for Pribula. Those predictions don’t consider an Allar injury or a quarterback change.

For more on Beau Pribula,check out our 2024 player profile for Pribula. See more ofPenn State’s top 25 players for 2024.

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