Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1495456
A P R I L 2 0 2 3 2 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M deliver an accurate, catchable ball. When blitzed, there were times when Allar knock-kneed his follow-through and didn't throw with confidence. That tendency led to underthrown and off- target passes. Fortunately for Allar, the fix is simple. If he plays confidently, this problem will take care of itself. That's why the men- tal aspect of understanding what's hap- pening is so crucial for the second-year quarterback. Malik McClain WR | Jr. | 6-4 | 202 What he's shown: You'll find few wide receivers who combine size and athletic ability the way McClain does. Despite his 6-foot-4 frame, he can op- erate effectively from the slot. With his deep speed and potential for pulling in contested catches, his profile has almost no holes. What he needs to work on: Route running is key to gaining separation, and despite his ability to make hard cuts, there are times when McClain can't con- trol his momentum. This problem leads to slips and poor transitions through the top of his route. There's a different learning process for big-bodied receivers with a high center of gravity than for players who are sev- eral inches shorter. With work, McClain can find his literal stride and create big plays. If he does, Penn State will have picked up another portal steal. Alex Birchmeier OL | Fr. | 6-5 | 292 What he's shown: It's hard to be a technically excellent offensive lineman and be a "superstar." Dependability doesn't translate into highlights. Birchmeier is no slouch as an athlete, though. He's highly mobile and can turn and run with the other players on this list. What sets him apart is that he can reach those heights earlier thanks to his advanced positional fundamentals com- ing into college. What he needs to work on: Birch- meier just needs to keep doing what he's doing. He's big enough, fast enough and strong enough to be great. The Virginia