Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1512721
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 2 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M that's a really mature attribute that he holds. "He doesn't come in gloomy. He's not moody. He just comes in with an attitude that he's ready to fix things and get on to the next week." Penn State suffered breakdowns all over the field in its losses to Ohio State and Michigan. Some occurred because of deficiencies that were evident even in the team's wins, but a disproportion- ate amount of blame always falls on the quarterback, no matter what the circum- stances. Allar caught his share of flak, and in doing so, he endeared himself to team- mates who appreciated his refusal to point fingers. "It's easy to blame the quarterback," Nourzad said, "but there are a lot of things going on that people don't usually see. If I mess up the snap a little bit, that messes up his timing just a split-second, which is going to affect his reads. If he has pres- sure in his face, if we're not doing our jobs, he's not going to be able to see things as well and he's going to feel that pressure. But I've never once heard him put blame onto another position group because of something." The Road Ahead As difficult as it was to engineer a 10- win regular season, a new set of hurdles lie ahead for Penn State's offense. While preparing for their bowl game, the Nit- tany Lions will also be welcoming new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas and simultaneously scour- ing the transfer portal for players who can help them at positions of need, among the most urgent being wide re- ceiver and offensive tackle. The PSU offense could look very dif- ferent in 2024, and with a rearranged schedule set to serve up games against West Virginia, USC, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin and Ohio State, the margin for error will be, if anything, even slim- mer than it was during the past three months. For all the differences, though, it ap- pears that something critical will stay the same: Allar's name will still be atop the depth chart at quarterback. There were some difficult moments during his first season as Penn State's starter, but while the losses to PSU's biggest rivals stung, they also showcased Allar's resolve. "Nobody wants to feel this way," he said after the defeat in Columbus. "We put countless hours of hard work in, and it sucks to have a result like this. We have to wash it and learn from it. Because if we don't learn from it, we're just fooling ourselves." The Nittany Lions are definitely not fooling themselves about the need for improvement going forward. If Yurcich's dismissal showed anything, it's that PSU is clear-eyed about how extensive that effort will need to be. With players and staff getting set to wrap up the 2023 season and begin preparations for the one to follow, Allar's eagerness to put in the necessary work is an encouraging sign in itself. "The exciting thing to me is that there's a ton of room for improvement," Franklin said, "with him and with us." ■ Beau Pribula Emerges As Late-Season Game Changer For PSU Redshirt freshman quarterback Beau Pribula has played on many stages and won his share of games over the course of his football career. His legs and poise are the two main reasons for that. Both were on display in Penn State's 27-6 victory over Rutgers on Nov. 18. Pribula was forced into the game early in the third quarter after starter Drew Allar suffered an upper-body injury. He did not look nervous. Instead, he did what he often does: take off out of the pocket and move the chains. On his first play, Pribula ran for 39 yards. It did not lead to a score, but Penn State kicked a field goal and scored 2 touchdowns on his three sub- sequent drives. "I'm always ready to go in the game, no matter what," said Pribula, who came to PSU in 2022 after guiding Central York (Pa.) High to unbeaten regular seasons his last two years at the school. Pribula completed his lone pass attempt for 9 yards against the Scarlet Knights. He also scampered for a game-high 71 yards, including a 2-yard score to all but clinch the win. "Coach [James Franklin] has done a really good job getting me in games and in situations all sea- son long, and that made my job so much easier," Pribula said. "I felt super comfortable in there, just because I've had that experience so far." Pribula saw action in 10 games for Penn State during the regular season, completing 10 of 20 passes for 101 yards, with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. His primary role this year has been as a running threat. Heading into the bowl game, Pribula ranks third on the team in rushing with 313 yards and 6 touchdowns on 53 carries. That ability to gain yards on the ground came into play against Rutgers, a game in which Penn State was eager to run out the clock on the stubborn Scarlet Knights. "I thought when Beau came in, he did a nice job," Franklin said. "When Beau comes in the game, [opponents] have to respect the zone read. It changes how you call the game defensively." — Greg Pickel Pribula ran for 71 yards and engineered three scoring drives against Rutgers. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL