The dominoes for Penn State in the NCAA Transfer Portal have fallen slowly since the window for players to enter opened nearly a week ago. But it appears a key contributor for the Nittany Lions is set to be the program’s most notable departure to date.

Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula is “expected” to enter the transfer portal, Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported Sunday. Pribula is a redshirt sophomore who has two years of eligibility remaining.

Pribula released a statement on social media Sunday confirming his departure from the program, along with the fact that he is leaving the Penn State program ahead of the College Football Playoff. The No. 6-seed Nittany Lions open play against No. 11-seed SMU in the first round at Beaver Stadium on Dec. 21 (noon ET, TNT/MAX).

“The current NCAA post-season model creates a challenge for student athletes,” Pribula wrote. “The overlapping CFB playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision. After speaking at length with my family and coaches, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my intentions to enter the transfer portal and depart from the team to explore opportunities elsewhere.”

Pribula completed 26 of 35 passes (74.3%) for 275 yards and five touchdowns with one interception while appearing in all 13 games this fall behind starter Drew Allar. He also rushed 38 times for 242 yards (6.4 yards per carry) and four touchdowns.

Pribula was largely used as a change-of-pace quarterback or in specific packages from offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Pribula and Allar often shared the field together in certain situations.

The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Pribula, though, did get the chance to pilot the Penn State 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.

During the preseason, Pribula received praise for turning in his “best camp,” and he explained that he was confident entering his redshirt sophomore season. He also offered some insight on the Penn State quarterback room.

“Going into Year 3, this is my third fall camp, so it should be my best camp, and I should be the most confident,” Pribula said in August. “And that’s really how I feel. As far as competition in the quarterback room, I’m always going to continue to push every quarterback there is, as well as I expect them to do the same for me. Iron sharpens iron. We only want to make each other better, not just on the field making plays, but also when we’re in meetings, just trying to just push each other every day. And that’s really what it stems from.”

Penn State’s other scholarship quarterbacks on the roster currently are Allar, a junior with one year of eligibility remaining; redshirt freshman Jaxon Smolik, who didn’t appear in a game this season while rehabbing a spring injury; and freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, who didn’t appear in a game this season but drew rave reviews from coaches and teammates for his practice performance.

Penn State signed three-star quarterback Bekkem Kritza out of Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep in the Class of 2025.

During 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. Pribula appeared in 24 games, all of which came in the past two seasons.

Pribula committed to Penn State in August 2020 out of York (Pa.) Central York. Pribula was involved with three different offensive coordinators: He committed to Kirk Ciarrocca, enrolled under Mike Yurcich for two seasons and played for Kotelnicki.

He was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, and he was ranked as the No. 14 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 27 quarterback in the Class of 2022.

Read Pribula’s full statement on his departure below:

Growing up in Pennsylvania, it has always been a dream of mine to play football for Penn State. Wearing the blue & white these last 3 years has brought me some of the greatest moments of my life.

The current NCAA post-season model creates a challenge for student athletes. The overlapping CFB playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision. After speaking at length with my family and coaches, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my intentions to enter the transfer portal and depart from the team to explore opportunities elsewhere.

I want to thank the coaches, my teammates, the fanbase, and everyone else who has supported me along this journey. For the rest of my life, I stand proud as a Penn State graduate and letterman.

WE ARE

Beau Pribula

pic.twitter.com/3BYi7jtG2m

— Beau Pribula (@beauprib) December 16, 2024

Daniel Gallen covers Penn State for Lions247 and 247Sports. He can be reached at daniel.gallen@paramount.com. Follow Daniel on X at @danieljtgallen and Instagram at @bydanieljtgallen.