Last season, when backup quarterback Beau Pribula transferred from Penn State to Missouri ahead of the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff run, the move left a notable gap to fill. Enter Jaxon Smolik . The redshirt sophomore from Iowa has now stepped into the backup role at PSU. Although he missed the 2024 season due to a left leg injury, the young signal-caller is no stranger to perseverance. Before that setback, he made a brief appearance in one game during the 2023 campaign. While his college résumé is still developing, his high school career has already revealed his tremendous potential.

At Dowling Catholic High School, Smolik led his team to a 10–2 record and a trip to the state semifinals, throwing for 1,967 yards. His performances earned him All-Conference First-Team, 5A

See Full Page