Latest news with #BeauPribula
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Missouri football QB Beau Pribula talks Penn State transfer, Mizzou fit on podcast appearance
For what seems to be the first time since making the move to Missouri football, new Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula went public about his offseason transfer from Penn State. Pribula was a guest on the Front Office Sports podcast 'Next Up' with former All-American tight end and host Adam Breneman, talking with the host for approximately 50 minutes about his career, transfer and time so far with Mizzou Pribula, who is currently in what is widely viewed as a two-player competition with Sam Horn to be Missouri's next starting quarterback, and Breneman discussed the QB's time as a backup at Penn State, his transfer portal process and his first offseason in Columbia. Here are the most notable quotes from the podcast as Pribula opened up on his transfer process and his first offseason with Mizzou: Timeline, reason for Beau Pribula entering the transfer portal Pribula's entry to the transfer portal in December made waves, as he instantly became one of the most notable case studies for college football's pseudo-free-agency market and its inconvenient timing on the calendar. As Pribula explained to Breneman, he didn't have much of a choice if he wanted to find a team where he could compete to start and fit what he was looking for schematically and personally. He widely drew sympathy for his situation, viewed as a player who was forced to leave his team in the middle of a College Football Playoff run because waiting would have been detrimental to his future prospects. Pribula said he held multiple meetings with Penn State coach James Franklin after the Lions' Big Ten title loss to Oregon. Starting PSU quarterback Drew Allar announced shortly afterward he was returning and forgoing the NFL Draft. Pribula said it hadn't crossed his mind to transfer. After Allar's decision became public, Pribula said his family phoned him and said they thought it best to enter the portal. The backup QB and Franklin, as the quarterback explained it, attempted to come up with a plan to keep him with the squad until their playoff run was over. But that wasn't a realistic course of action. 'I couldn't be in the transfer portal and be on the team at the same time. I understood. That was a team rule, like it was just — it would have been too much of a distraction, so I couldn't do that,' Pribula told Breneman. 'But again, just thinking about it more, these spots are getting filled. Like, it's quarterback. There's only one on the field, one quarterback on the field at a time. And it was like, I need to find a good spot, like I need to go on visits. 'It was rough, like it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, like making that decision and leaving the team before the playoffs. … It was just horrible timing, and I hope it's getting fixed. You know, it's like free agency during the playoffs. It's insane.' Why did Beau Pribula choose Missouri? Don't talk to the quarterback about stadium tours or photoshoots or five-star dinners. His list of needs for an official visit are fairly simple. 'I want to talk to the head coach, and I want to talk to the offensive coordinator,' Pribula said, 'and then, like, I'm good. I don't need anything else.' Pribula said he took five official visits: Mizzou; UCF; Ole Miss; and Iowa. He had two more visits canceled: Wisconsin and Indiana. 'I went (to Mizzou), first thing is, like, 'Wow, they have really nice facilities.' Like, I went in there, I'm taking an elevator to the fourth floor to talk to Coach Drinkwitz. … I was like, 'Wow. This is, like, it's kind of nicer than Penn State,'' Pribula said. 'But it was really just getting with Coach Drink, the head coach, hanging out with him, and then Kirby Moore, the offensive coordinator; (Saints head coach) Kellen Moore's younger brother. … But like I said, it was really just those two things: Am I a good fit, and I met with the offensive coordinator for a while. Like, hour, two-hour meeting, just talking about scheme and stuff like that. And I was like, 'that's pretty good, that's kind of what I want right here. Like, this OC is dialed.' 'They have a really good football team, and they have a really good football program going on an upward trajectory. And I was like, 'I'm gonna take these other visits to compare and contrast and see, but like, I don't know, it's gonna be tough to beat.'' Pribula committed to the Tigers shortly after he wrapped up his final visit. He said his second choice, for what it's worth, likely was Iowa. On his fit with Mizzou, starting QB potential Perhaps the biggest question mark about Pribula's starting credentials is his ability as a passer and to lead an offense for four quarters. At Penn State, he was mostly used as a wrinkle in the Nittany Lions' offense, operating as a run-first, wildcat quarterback, with quite a bit of success, in spot relief of Allar. He has rushed for six yards per carry in his career, including 10 trips to the end zone. He has thrown just 56 total passes, but has a 9:1 touchdown-interception ratio. Pribula recognized the questions as fair from an outsider's lens — but he disagrees. 'I have complete confidence in myself as a passer,' Pribula said. 'People just don't know it yet. Like, I know my teammates know it. I know my coaches know it. It makes sense that people don't, from the outside, don't see it, but I know for 100% (certain), like, I'm a complete quarterback. There's no doubt in my mind. … And I mean, people still say stuff, like, 'oh, you know, he can't really throw.' But I know 100% I can throw just as good as any quarterback in the country. I can play quarterback as well as any quarterback in the country. I'm just excited to hopefully show that.' There's a lot to like about Pribula's potential fit with Mizzou. He's athletic, a lot like Cook. There seems to be a common consensus of respect from his former teammates about the type of character he is. Even after transferring, the outpouring of support from his former head coach and teammates has been noteworthy. If he can prove himself as a passer, Missouri's ceiling immediately rises. More: What is MLB Draft future for Sam Horn? What draft pick could mean for Missouri football QB, RHP More: How will new quarterback Beau Pribula fit with Missouri football? Behind the QB's track record First, he has to win the job, of course. 'I was so locked in (during Mizzou's spring camp), like I have been ever since I left Penn State,' Pribula said. 'Nothing's mattered to me more than being the best I can be and being the best quarterback for this team this year. Because, you know, I've got two years left, and I want to have no regrets, like, I want to be the best I can be.' This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football QB Beau Pribula talks transfer on podcast appearance
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eli Drinkwitz SEC Media Days: Five key takeaways from Missouri football coach in Atlanta
In his opening statement, Eli Drinkwitz quipped that he wouldn't talk about the Jeffrey Epstein files or the JFK assassination. 'I know there's a lot of burning questions in this room by the 14 of y'all that showed up,' Drinkwitz said. 'But, just as a reminder, I'm not going to answer any questions about the Epstein files, or about the radiation belt, or whether or not it was possible for Lee Harvey Oswald to get three shots off in seven seconds.' Before he left the stage, he closed with what seemed to be a tongue-firmly-lodged-in-cheek message of thanks to the 'late-stragglers' media members who filled the room for his press conference late. Later in the afternoon, he took to X/Twitter to take on 'aggregate' headlines on his CFP format suggestions. Man, oh man. Where to begin? It's talking season, you betcha. And Thursday was a Drinkwitz-talkin' tour de force. Somewhere in-between it all, Drinkwitz — often-fierce, characteristically-zesty and self-admittedly less concerned with what people think about him now than before — broached a lot of big topics facing his Missouri football squad in the 2025 season and the College Football Playoff in general. Here are — wisecracks, right hooks and left jabs mostly set aside — five of the most noteworthy topics Drinkwitz addressed on the SEC Media Days stage. Missouri football QBs: It's still Sam Horn vs. Beau Pribula As expected, nothing new or unexpected on the quarterback front broke in Atlanta. Drinkwitz did confirm that Sam Horn plans to compete for the starting quarterback job, even despite being drafted in the 17th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in the MLB Draft. Horn will compete for starting honors with Beau Pribula, a Penn State transfer. More: Missouri football's Eli Drinkwitz says QB Sam Horn will compete in 2025 despite MLB Draft pick Here is what was said about each of Mizzou's potential starters, and a bonus quote on true freshman Matt Zollers. On Horn: 'Has really excelled in his maturation,' Drinkwitz said. 'One thing most people don't know about Sam, he's a Type-1 diabetic, and so he's — since he's been in college — been able to learn to adapt and train and develop and adjust, and he's really done a lot of good things, understands the system.' On Pribula: 'Beau came in with the right mindset; nothing given, everything earned,' Drinkwitz said. 'Works extremely hard developing his craft. He's a guy who spends a lot of extra time up there, has a chip on his shoulder — the right kind of chip. Does a really good job leadership-wise.' On Zollers: 'He throws it as well as any quarterback I've ever seen. He's coming back from an ankle surgery. You can tell he's adjusting to the speed of college football, but very excited about that room.' Bucking the 'whining' trend Drinkwitz, notably, had some novel suggestions for the College Football Playoff format, mostly focused on player- and fan-experience by making the field much, much larger, as well as making sure the competitors are decided on the field rather than in a backroom. More on that right here. More: Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz backs CFP play-in games, essentially expanding to 30 teams But one of the most thoughtful responses Drinkwitz gave was at least partially in rebuke to what he, perhaps jokingly, referred to as 'whining' from some other coaches. There's been a fair share of it. Whether it's NIL and revenue sharing or the transfer portal or the College Football Playoff or you name it; coaches generally don't seem to be thrilled with the state of the athletics landscape. 'I was sent a text message the other day by one of my good friends that said, 'What a privilege it is to be exhausted by a challenge you choose for yourself,'' Drinkwitz said. 'And that's something I think about a lot when we talk about college football and college athletics: We choose to do this. I'm blessed to be the head football coach (at Mizzou) and incredibly proud of the opportunity to serve the great state of Missouri.' That's a refreshing perspective, and one that's become pretty consistent with Drinkwitz's handling of changes to the sport. On the strength of the SEC The Mizzou coach was asked whether it was important for the SEC to get back 'to the top' after two straight national champions from the Big Ten. Drinkwitz disagreed with the premise of that question. ''The top' as in number of draft picks in the NFL? 'Top' as in most viewership? 'Top' as in overall top as the deepest conference in college football? Yeah, we haven't been — I heard that last night: 'Well, (SEC teams) haven't won the national championship in the last two years.' I don't know, what was it? The previous 10? Fourteen? … You've got 16 of the toughest competitors in the world who are head coaches in this league. We're all driven to achieve the best, whether that's internally or externally. 'We feel pressure to achieve that, but there's no pressure because we've got to do it for the SEC. We want to do it for our team, our players, our fans.' Between 2009-23 — the 14-year range mentioned — the SEC won 11 of the possible 14 national titles. On the return of Border War KU coach Lance Leipold ruffled some feathers in Manhattan, Kansas, when he said that he didn't know Border War was a bigger deal to most Jayhawks fans than Kansas-Kansas State. Mizzou versus Kansas is back on the football field this year, with a matchup set for Sept. 6 in Columbia. Drinkwitz has long been a proponent of maintaining and protecting regional rivalries in college athletics — a topic he's broached numerous times over the years when conference realignment has come up. 'I think rivalries are a great thing for college athletics and college football, particularly — especially — regional rivalries,' Drinkwitz said. 'This one goes back a long ways. The origins of our football name, the Tigers, is based off of the militia that was formed to protect Columbia from people from Kansas and the Kansas area. So, you know, this is something that goes back a long way. It's very deep, and it's something that our team is very keenly aware of. 'We understand the implications, the importance to our state, and look forward to playing that game, especially having it at home.' Weighing in on Nick Saban rumors OK, one last wisecrack: This one aimed at radio host and ex-Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, who said he was told by a "very in-the-know person" that legendary coach Nick Saban might not be done coaching. Of course, that became one of the top storylines on the Omni Atlanta Hotel grounds this week, with Kirby Smart and Lane Kiffin and, of course, Kalen DeBoer among the coaches asked to weigh in. Drinkwitz decided to get his shot in, too. 'Coach Saban, all summer, he calls and does scouting reports with all the head coaches. Not to get back into coaching. Just want to clear that up for Greg McElroy,' Drinkwitz said. 'But he does that to make sure he has an edge on the competition. And the first person he asked about was Jalen Catalon.' Catalon transferred to Mizzou after an AP third-team All-American season at UNLV under Barry Odom. The safety previously has played for Arkansas and Texas, and figures to be an important figure in Mizzou's secondary this season. '(Saban) said, 'Man, that guy's played a lot of really good football at a high level,' and you could see that in the spring,' Drinkwitz said. 'He's got great instincts. He understands diagnoses, what offenses are trying to do. He's got a knack for finding the football in the air. He's really good at blitzing. You know, we play a lot of single-high defense and use that safety to insert, which is something that Jalen can really do, and we're very excited about what he brings to that room.' This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 5 takeaways from Missouri football's Eli Drinkwitz at SEC Media Days
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Penn State Quarterback Reveals Why He Transferred
Former Penn State Quarterback Reveals Why He Transferred originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Backup Penn State quarterback from last season Beau Pribula recently went on the show Next Up with Adam Breneman. He discussed his time on the Nittany Lions, as well as why he ultimately decided to transfer out. Advertisement "It all happened really fast, because we just played in the Big Ten Championship with Oregon, and there was zero thought about transferring, like zero," Pribula told Breneman. "It wasn't until when my family called, which they usually do like once a week. And I remember my family, my brother being like Beau the transfer portal is open right now and this is all going to happen really fast, we really think you should consider transferring." This conversation Pribula had with his family opened his eyes to the decision of actually leaving the team he had been on for three seasons. He had a few meetings with Penn State's head coach James Franklin and decided that the best option for him was to enter the portal. He did so before the team's first College Football Playoff game against SMU, and instead of his teammates being mad at him for making this decision, they had the complete opposite reaction. Advertisement "I went up to them and I was like, guys like I'm transferring, and I have to leave right now. I appreciate you guys for everything just want to say goodbye and everything. They weren't just supportive of me they were excited for me and my future," Pribula told Breneman. Pribula as of now has the starting QB job for the Tigers locked up, with the departure of senior Brady Cook. It seems he will finally get a full season to display his talent that she showed off in brief stints for Penn State. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Why Beau Pribula decided to transfer from Penn State
In the modern era of the transfer portal, one's future seems almost certainly more unsettled than you think. Now that programs can sign you away from your schools even when you are competing in the playoffs, situations grow ever more tenuous. So when news of Beau Pribula's transfer to Missouri from Penn State broke even before the playoffs began, it was a huge shock but nothing new. What is new, on the other hand, is the information about said about how one phone call from his family could have changed anything. If you asked Beau Pribula whether he would be willing to stay another year as the backup to Drew Allar, 9 times out of 10 his answer would be yes. He felt connected to his teammates, the fans, and most importantly, himself. After all, the Nittany Lions had just cemented their first playoff berth ever. Surely he wished to take and moment and bask in the moment. However, harsh reality would soon strike. According to CBS Sports, it was a phone call from Pribula's brother Cade that changed the tenor of his mind. His brother reminded him that, for as much as the new portal gave him ample time to decide his future, the process moves incredibly fast. If Pribula wanted a move, it had to be now. Thus, the playoff celebration quickly transitioned to school searching, along with head coach James Franklin. "I was instantly pretty emotional," Pribula said in an appearance on the Next Up With Adam Breneman podcast. "I hadn't thought about it at all and it's kind of becoming a reality." Most importantly, he still had to remain present for a team he knew he would never play for again which was hard for him. The support of his teammates, he mentioned, were what carried him through. And so, after countless visits that included everyone from Wisconsin to UCF, Pribula settled on the Missouri Tigers. He knew very little about his new home, only that he would be following in Brady Cook's footsteps and that Eli Drinkwitz was an innovative head coach making waves in the SEC. "It was really just those two things -- my good fit and I met with the offensive coordinator for a while, an hour or two hour meeting just talking about scheme and stuff like that and I was like, 'That's kind of what I want right here.", Pribula said on the podcast. Something about that quote says that he is ready for change. Needless to say, one can't help but think what Pribula could have been had he remained a Nittany Lion.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mizzou QB Reveals He Was Originally Recruited as a Free Safety
Mizzou QB Reveals He Was Originally Recruited as a Free Safety originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the Missouri Tigers prepare for the 2025 season, there are more questions than answers, especially at quarterback. Advertisement With the departure of three-year starter Brady Cook and several key offensive pieces, head coach Eli Drinkwitz was forced to look outside Columbia for solutions. One of those new faces under center is Penn State transfer Beau Pribula, a player who, not long ago, wasn't even seen as a true quarterback. 'My whole life, I was always a good athlete,' Pribula said on the Next Up with Adam Breneman podcast. 'I was recruited at free safety. I had to play wide receiver and free safety — and ended up being really good at it.' Despite his proven athleticism, the perception for a long time was that he couldn't throw well enough to play quarterback at a high level. Advertisement 'I could see how people would think that. Like, 'He's a good athlete, he can run, but I don't know if he can really play quarterback,'' he admitted. 'Honestly, I'd probably agree with them my freshman year of college. I see clips from that first spring, and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, I was not ready to play this level of quarterback.'' But Pribula's development didn't stop there. He pointed to the 2023 Peach Bowl as a turning point, as the first time he felt he truly proved himself as a passer. 'After that Peach Bowl game, I had complete confidence in myself as a passer,' he said. 'People just didn't know it yet. I knew my teammates knew it. I knew my coaches knew it. But I understood why people on the outside didn't see it.' His real breakout moment, though, came in a 2024 matchup against Wisconsin. Advertisement 'It wasn't until the Wisconsin game where we were forced to call the whole playbook to win,' he said. 'That was the game where I had to make throws — and I did. That's when I felt like, 'Okay, here's 11 throws for you.'' Still, the narrative around Pribula has remained largely focused on his legs, not his arm. At Penn State, he racked up 571 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 94 carries, while only throwing for 424 yards and nine scores on 56 attempts. Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula (9) rushes up the Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK But that limited passing sample, he says, was by design. Playing behind Drew Allar, Pribula was primarily used in running packages. 'People didn't see the throws I was making in practice or the player I was becoming,' he said. 'But I know 100% that I'm a complete quarterback. There's no doubt in my mind. I can throw just as well as any quarterback in the country. I'm just excited to show it.' Advertisement As the Tigers head into fall camp, there's still technically a quarterback competition between Pribula and redshirt junior Sam Horn. But based on spring reps and overall momentum, Pribula holds the edge — especially with Horn spending most of the spring focused on baseball and recently landing at No. 128 on MLB's Top Draft Prospects board. While many had their doubts, Pribula made it a goal to prove them wrong. Still, replacing Cook means more than just producing on the field, it also means taking over as a team leader, which will be the next big question for Pribula. But if you ask him, he's ready to answer it. Related: Mizzou Football Loses Another Promising Defensive Recruit to SEC Opponent This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
