Beau Pribula is not a name that many people around the country know off the top of their heads, but what he did last season made some news. The backup quarterback decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and left Happy Valley in the winter window, before the College Football Playoff game against the SMU Mustangs.
It seemed to be a controversial decision at the time with not many people understanding why he could not wait until the season was officially over for Penn State. On Thursday, Pribula would discuss the situation and open up about the decision to transfer from Penn State to Missouri.
Beau Pribula Explains Controversial 2024 Transfer
While appearing on Next Up with Adam Breneman, Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula discussed entering the winter transfer portal last season before Penn State played in the College Football Playoff.
“It was kind of controversial when I left. I had to leave before the playoffs. I still remember that day – it was a Sunday, the week before SMU, the first round of the playoffs. And I practiced that day. Like, I didn’t even know I was going to transfer. I had just come down from Coach Franklin’s office. We had finally come to the decision where I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to have to move on and I can’t play in this game, unfortunately. I’ve got to pack my stuff up.’ That was a crazy feeling, being there for three years.”
Beau Pribula would continue to discuss how he did not know at the time how his Nittany Lion teammates would take the news as he explained to some players and said goodbye. He said that instead of being angry or upset about the situation, they were supportive of him and excited about his future.
“They don’t realize how much that meant to me. In that moment, it couldn’t mean more to me.”
Beau Pribula went on to transfer to the Missouri Tigers and would appear in 24 games over his career with the Penn State Nittany Lions. He would complete 37 of 56 (66.1%) of his passes for 424 yards with nine passing touchdowns to one interception. He also would attempt 94 rushes for 571 yards (6.1 yards per carry) with 10 rushing touchdowns.
With Pribula expected to be the starting quarterback in 2025, it will be interesting to see how he does in the Southeastern Conference with coach Eliah Drinkwitz.
