Former Penn State QB Bekkem Kritza Joins Alabama A&M, Could Start

Bekkem Kritza, a 6'5", 199-lb quarterback from Penn State's 2023 recruiting class, has committed to Alabama A&M and arrives with a chance to factor immediately for the FCS program. Kritza, who did not appear in a game as a true freshman, is now set to begin his redshirt-freshman season in a new uniform after transferring out of the Penn State program.

Kritza entered college as a three-star prospect ranked No. 51 nationally among quarterbacks in the class of 2023. His high-school background included multiple school moves, a path that demanded adaptability and persistence before he even reached the college level. While game tape at the collegiate level is limited, Kritza’s size and recruiting pedigree make him an intriguing option for Alabama A&M, which lost Cornelius Brown IV to a season-ending injury last year and needs quarterback depth.

The move is part of a larger churn at Penn State. Kritza is the 44th member of Penn State’s 2026 portal class to find a new home, following a wave of portal departures that has reshaped the program’s roster picture. For Alabama A&M, landing a former Power Five recruit like Kritza represents a low-risk, potentially high-reward acquisition as the program looks to stabilize its quarterback room and maintain offensive continuity after Brown’s injury interrupted last season’s plans.

From a performance perspective, Alabama A&M will be evaluating Kritza on accuracy, decision-making under pressure, and his ability to transition from practice reps to game speed. Kritza’s physical profile - tall frame and a near-200-pound playing weight - gives him the prototypical height and size college coaches covet when projecting arm angle, pocket vision, and downfield passing mechanics. The immediate question for head coach and offensive staff will be whether Kritza’s practice performance and grasp of Alabama A&M’s playbook can translate into a starting role or early playing time in fall camp.

This transfer also underscores industry trends. The transfer portal continues to create fluid career paths, with FCS programs increasingly scooping up high-end recruits who seek playing time and visibility. For FBS programs like Penn State, the exodus is a reminder that recruiting and development must be paired with clear pathways to snaps if programs hope to retain talent.

For Alabama A&M fans and FCS observers, the next checkpoints are spring practice and fall camp, where Bekkem Kritza’s readiness will be measured against returning quarterbacks and the demands of game preparation. His arrival matters both on the field, as a candidate to stabilize a position hit by injury, and off it, as part of a broader conversation about roster construction and player mobility in modern college football.