So You Drafted Penn State QB Drew Allar

Allar returned alongside a host of Penn State seniors for an expected national championship run in 2025. However, things quickly went south after starting the season ranked #2. While the Nittany Lions started 3-0 with a soft non-conference schedule, the offense appeared out of sorts despite the weak competition. The concerns turned legitimate in the Big Ten opener against Oregon, with Penn State only mustering a field goal before two late touchdowns helped them get to overtime. The weak start ultimately doomed the Nittany Lions, as the game was sealed for the Ducks with Allar throwing an interception in overtime.

The season then unraveled with a shocking loss to UCLA, that was doomed by another late start for the offense with just seven points at halftime against a poor Bruins defense. Penn State then fell to 3-3, losing to Northwestern 22-21 in yet another game where the offense could not find any rhythm. It would be Allar’s last game of his college career as he suffered a broken ankle on a failed fourth-and-two run attempt in the final possession of the game.

WHAT YOU’RE GETTING

Allar has been one of the most scrutinized players in college football over the last several years, so it isn’t hard to find a variety of opinions about his ability.

Let’s start with the positives, with the biggest being Allar’s prototypical size and arm of an NFL quarterback. At 6-5, 235 lbs. with an arm that can heave the ball 70 yards down the field with a slight flick of the wrist. He has been compared to Josh Allen for good reason, boasting nearly identical size and athleticism. He also moves surprisingly well for his size, regularly converting key third downs with his legs.

Allar also grew as a leader during his time at Penn State. He often appeared uncomfortable and nervous during his first year as a starter in 2023, but became much more vocal and fiery the next two seasons. He was regularly commended for his work ethic and team-first attitude.

Despite the many physical gifts, Allar could never quite put it together to become a true standout as his career was marred with inconsistency. It became a regular occurrence for him to make an NFL-level throw, then immediately follow that up by overthrowing an open receiver or throwing into coverage while missing an open man.

So what caused Allar to not reach his full potential as a projected Heisman candidate and top five overall draft pick? It appeared to be a combination of things. As mentioned, Allar often flashed immense potential but never could put it all together. Even in his third year as a starter, you just never knew what type of outing to expect from Allar, or even what might happen each time he dropped back. He also wasn’t helped by playing under two different offensive coordinators who were labeled as play calling geniuses, only to be unceremoniously dumped after two seasons apiece. There was also the well-documented struggles of Penn State’s receivers during Allar’s time in Happy Valley, although there is debate whether the receivers couldn’t get separation, or Allar just not reading the defense to find the soft spots in coverage.

Allar could still develop into a franchise quarterback in the NFL, but it will need to find the right landing spot for that to happen. The best-case scenario would be to sit behind a veteran quarterback while he learns the system. He certainly has the physical tools to succeed, but absolutely must improve greatly on reading defenses and being more accurate on a down-to-down basis.