Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1492675
1 0 M A R C H 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M J ames Franklin has put to rest the most pressing details about the quarterback position ahead of spring practice. With four-year starter Sean Clifford working toward the NFL and third- stringer Christian Veilleux having trans- ferred to Pitt, the Nittany Lions currently have three scholarship signal-callers on campus. When the team takes the field for its first practice in March, sophomore Drew Allar will get the first reps, followed by classmate Beau Pribula and January en- rollee Jaxon Smolik. More important, while Allar will be first in line, Franklin and his staff are expecting a competitive environment in which the two returnees push each other and provide leadership for the room and the team as a whole. "We are going to need both of those guys not only competing but taking on a significant leadership role," Franklin said during a Feb. 7 media availability at Beaver Stadium. "No one cares that they are young. They are in that position, and a big part of that position is leadership. "I don't want them to go from zero to a hundred. Just start to work into that role, take responsibility, have a plan, and be intentional like everything else we do. But I think Drew and Beau are ready for that." Allar saw action in 10 games as a true freshman, completing 35 of 60 attempts for 344 yards, with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. The former On3 five-star prospect displayed impressive physical tools and composure throughout the season. But he had only been in the pro- gram for a few months, and with Clif- ford, a super senior and four-star starter, running the offense, Allar wasn't asked to provide vocal leadership. That's not the case anymore. In addi- tion to refining his grasp of coordinator Mike Yurcich's system this offseason, Allar is working to fill a void that opened up with the departure of Clifford and several other captains on both sides of the ball. "Right now, I'm trying to become more of a vocal leader for the team," he said. "That's something that Coach Franklin and Coach Yurcich have stressed with me. We lost a lot of leadership, a lot of key people last year, so just in general, we need leaders to step up. I think [the coaches] are doing a really good job of developing leadership. I'm really excited to go through winter workouts and start developing my leadership skills." While upperclassmen are typically re- lied upon to provide the sort of leader- DREW ALLAR WORKS TO HONE LEADERSHIP SKILLS N A T E B A U E R | N A T E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M NEWS & NOTES After seeing action in 10 games as a true freshman last season, Allar is eager to take the next step in his development. He and classmate Beau Pribula are the only scholarship returnees at quarterback this season. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER