On game day, dozens of lights shine onto a football field. It’s easy to get lost in the bright lights and the thousands in the crowd. But even under the brightest lights on the biggest stage, sophomore quarterback Jack Grusser stays committed to the process and playing the game.
Athletics have been ingrained in Grusser since birth. His father played hockey in college, and in Grusser’s hometown — Wyckoff, N.J. — it’s a tradition to immerse kids in numerous sports during their childhood. And the Grusser family did just that with its four children.
Grusser and his two younger brothers eventually gravitated to football, and Grusser cited their shared appreciation for the game during his childhood — whether it was throwing in the backyard or playing tackle or snow football in the winters — as an influence on his game.
“We always bounce ideas off each other. [My brothers] always ask me questions. I ask them questions. It’s nice to have two other guys and even my dad in the house, where we can talk football pretty much every single day and talk about what’s going on with their team[s] and what’s going on with our team,” Grusser said.
Heading into high school, Grusser’s commitment to athletics did not waiver, and he decided to attend Parisi Academy — a high school preparation academy — for a year in order to develop and grow athletically and academically.
“[Parisi Academy] really set me up for success in high school. … The Parisi training program was super beneficial for me, as it allowed me to come bigger, faster, and stronger going into high school. I was a little undersized in eighth grade going into high school,” Grusser said on Instagram.
That experience proved to be beneficial when Grusser entered powerhouse high school Bergen Catholic in 2019 as quarterback of the freshman team. Grusser led the Crusaders to an undefeated 10-0 record with 19 passing and eight rushing touchdowns.
When it became clear that Grusser wouldn’t be able to ascend to the starting quarterback position at Bergen Catholic, he seized an opportunity to join another powerhouse program — his hometown high school, Ramapo — to fill its QB1 spot, left open after star Charles DePrima went on to play for Harvard. Alongside DePrima, Ramapo’s program produced a long line of stars, including two-time Super Bowl champion and Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan.
In 2021, in his first game with the Ramapo Raiders, Grusser settled in quickly and became a “Jack of all trades” in his debut, throwing three touchdown passes and showing off his ability to run to the ball himself. Beyond football, Grusser was also involved with lacrosse and track and field at Ramapo.
Even amid adversity at the end of the season with the sudden passing of his football coach Drew Gibbs, a pillar of the North Jersey community, Grusser’s dedication to the game and his team never wavered.
His potential and athleticism soon became apparent to schools across the nation. In spring 2022, Grusser had offers lined up from 15 schools — including Bucknell, Connecticut, Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Penn. Following in his Ramapo predecessor’s footsteps, Grusser committed to Harvard in June 2022.
Heading into the 2022 season, Grusser was in the top 10 of the returning passing yards leaders with 2,693 yards.
Grusser had a strong senior high school season, in which he threw for 2,140 yards — even while missing part of the season with an ankle injury — and led the Raiders to a second-straight championship final.
Something was brewing in the background, however, and in two months before graduation, Grusser made a late decision to be a preferred walk-on at Michigan — a program he had been “a fan [of] since I set foot on this Earth” and his father’s alma mater.
And it was a worthwhile switch. While he didn’t see any game action, Grusser was part of the Wolverines in their national championship-winning season in 2023. Grusser served as Michigan’s scout team quarterback and wide receiver, in addition to taking a role on special teams. Even while off the field, Grusser relished the learning opportunities he had in Ann Arbor.
“Being on the team right now is awesome, and I’m super grateful I was given the opportunity. Going against the best of the best makes me a better player and makes me elevate my game that much more,” Grusser said at the time.
However, at the end of the day, Grusser wanted to be back on the field.
“For me, it just came down to playing football,” Grusser told The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Penn was of interest back in Grusser’s high school days, and when he contacted coach Ray Priore as he entered the transfer portal, Priore seized the opportunity.
“We knew how talented he was. We had some folks at Michigan that told us of his abilities and everything else. We were really excited when he entered and decided to join us,” Priore said.
It was too late in the process for Grusser to join the Quakers in fall 2024, so he decided to take a year off to train on his own before donning the Red and Blue.
Now, finally at Penn, Grusser is ready to play whatever role the Quakers need him to.
“We see him playing a couple [of] different things for us. One is [a] quarterback in a situational type thing, but also some running plays and [a] little wide receiver as well. He’s a tremendous athlete and can impact us and help us do a lot of different things,” Priore said.
“I’m going to do everything I can to help the team in any way, shape or form, wherever, wherever that position is on the field for me,” Grusser added.
Grusser knows that game days will look very different than back in Ann Arbor, but what he’s enjoyed most about being at Penn so far is being on smaller, more intimate team.
”The camaraderie I felt from the team already [is great]. Obviously, it's a little bit smaller of a team. All the guys seem super intertwined, not really clicky or anything like that. It's really just one big family. Everybody's been accepting and very cool.” Grusser said.
While senior quarterback Liam O’Brien has the QB1 role locked up, O’Brien admires the deep experience Grusser brings to the quarterback room.
“Coming from Michigan, he lived and breathed football. Definitely very different. Having someone that understands what that environment and that culture is like really adds to the team,” O’Brien said.
There’s a lot to take away from being part of a Power Five football team, but what Grusser took away from his time in Ann Arbor, Mich. is a simple lesson that describes his journey to the Quakers: commitment to the game and the process.
“Just staying locked in at all times and being committed to the process is a big [lesson]. Taking one day at a time, chopping away no matter what, because it really is a grind every single day,” Grusser said. “It’s a grueling process, and you only get one day a week to reap the fruits of your labor. … But as long as you stay committed, you’ll be fine.”
