The Big Ten may just have a dark horse quarterback in Drew Allar. I project Allar to put up some good numbers for the Nittany Lions this season. Allar has untapped potential and the toughness that coaches love. There’s a new breath of fresh air down in Happy Valley, for good reason.
Allar’s path to Penn State may have been shocking to some. He attended Medina High School in Medina, Ohio. In high school, Allar was spectacular, ultimately earning many offers alongside multiple accolades. He got the attention of some of the best college programs in the country. The Buckeyes offered but did it late. Allar was already committed to Penn State by then and he’s a guy who’s big on loyalty.
To sum up his high school career, Allar was a multi-sport athlete, lettering in baseball, basketball, and football. Allar holds the school and county records for career passing yards with 9,103, career passing touchdowns with 98, passing yards in a season with 4,444, passing touchdowns in a season with 48, passing yards in a game with 525, and passing touchdowns in a game totaling 5. These are some gaudy numbers. Following, are a few of Allar’s accomplishments in high school:
Max Preps Ohio Player of the Year
– First-team all-state selection in Division I
– Greater Cleveland Conference Offensive Player of the Year
– Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Northeast Ohio Inland District Division I Offensive Player of the Year
– Cleveland.com Offensive Player of the Year
Penn State Commitment
Allar committed to Penn State in 2022, choosing the Nittany Lions over several programs. His decision was influenced by Penn State’s historic football tradition, the coaching staff’s goal for his development, and the opportunity to compete at one of the highest levels of college football. Ohio State lost out on the Allar sweepstakes by taking too long. Allar’s commitment marked a solid win for head coach James Franklin and his staff, who saw Allar as their quarterback of the future.
Freshman Season
Allar’s season in 2022 was a time of growth and learning. While he saw limited action behind an experienced starter in Sean Clifford, he used this season to become familiar with the college game, perfect his mechanics, and master Penn State’s offensive system. His brief appearances on the field were enough to showcase his potential, leaving fans excited for what’s next.
Sophomore Season
In 2023, Allar was handed the keys and never looked back. He put up impressive numbers, ultimately showing why he’s the guy for the job. In terms of stats, he did an excellent job protecting the ball, throwing 25 touchdowns against 2 interceptions. He posted a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 12.5-to-1, finishing second nationally behind Bo Nix, (15-to-1). He was tied for the Big Ten lead in passing touchdowns with 25; T-18th nationally, finished second in points responsible for with 176; T-26th, fourth in passing efficiency with 136.9 and passing yards with 2,631, fifth in yards per pass attempt with 6.76. Andy Kotelnicki and Allar are a dangerous combination for defenses. The new hire proves that Penn State is looking to further highlight Allar’s strengths and shows they’re on a mission this year.
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