Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1507572
2 0 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 3 A college football team does not need a player who can win the Heisman Trophy at both quarterback and running back to reach and possibly win the College Football Playoff. But having three such players cer- tainly doesn't hurt, and two weeks into the 2023 season, one thing has become clear: Penn State has one of the most talented trios in the country. The Nittany Lions came into the year knowing what was possible every time one of their sophomore running backs touched the football; Nicholas Single- ton and Kaytron Allen had combined for 1,928 rushing yards last season. What was unknown was whether the hopes and expectations tied to former five-star quarterback prospect and Elite 11 finalist Drew Allar would equal big plays and bigger moments once he ascended to the starting role vacated by Sean Clifford. Through the season's first two games, it was hard to dispute the assessment of 10th-year head coach James Franklin, who said of Allar's progress after a 63-7 thrashing of Delaware in Week 2, "So far, so good." Good may be shortchanging the sophomore from Medina, Ohio, how- ever. He's been spectacular. The ball comes out of his right hand differently than it does with the typical college quarterback. There is not a spot on the field he can't throw to with speed and accuracy. Allar can hit a slant in traffic just as easily as he can chuck it down- field or throw a long sideways pass near the line of scrimmage so a receiver can follow his cavalry of blockers downfield. What's more, he's poised enough to recover quickly when something goes awry. Allar can skip a screen pass at a receiver's feet and follow it by running up the middle for a first down to keep Penn State moving downfield. There isn't a quarterbacking play he can't make. That versatility is the reason he's thrived so far. Showing Flashes Through two games, Allar had com- pleted 43 of 55 pass attempts (78.2 per- cent) for 529 yards and 4 touchdowns. Just as important, he had yet to com- mit a turnover. And, considering he's led the offense for only two games, he has an impressive command of the huddle and the pre-snap adjustments that are needed to allow Penn State to excel. Put it all together, and you have the makings of something special, which is a word many have used to describe the quarter- back since his high school days. "Obviously, he showed signs last year, but it was a small sample size," Frank- lin said after the Nittany Lions' romp over Delaware on Sept. 9. "This training UPWARD MOBILITY After an encouraging apprenticeship last year, sophomore Drew Allar has made a strong debut as PSU's starting quarterback G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M Allar has proven to be a quick study. In his first two starts for the Nittany Lions, he completed 43 of 55 passing attempts (78.2 percent) for 529 yards and 4 touchdowns. PHOTO BY FRANK HYATT W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M