Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 15 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M "Drew Allar might be the most disrespected quarterback in college football, often receiving the blame for the offense's struggles despite regularly being hamstrung by his environment. Allar's 86.3 grade was a top-20 mark among FBS quarterbacks, and he ranked second to only Bo Nix in turnover- worthy play rate (1.1%). He's one of the 10 best signal-callers in the nation right now." — Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus analyst, on Penn State's junior starter, who leads a quarterback room rated ninth in the country by PFF heading into the season "Allar had just eight completions all season on throws of 20-plus yards downfield. He had five games in which he attempted one or zero such throws. Three of those completions came in the final two games of the year after former OC Mike Yurcich was fired. As a point of comparison, Wash- ington's [Michael] Penix [Jr.] completed 46 balls on throws of 20-plus last year. Whether Allar's lack of aggressiveness downfield was a matter of game plan or ability will be one of the biggest factors in Penn State's push for a playoff berth this year." — David Hale, ESPN staff writer, assessing where Allar needs to improve this fall "This has been the hurdle for Penn State, beat- ing Ohio State. They've got them at home. A win in Happy Valley over Ohio State would put Penn State in the absolute prime spot to go play for the Big Ten title." — Joel Klatt, Fox Sports analyst, listing the Lions' Nov. 2 matchup against the Buckeyes as one of 10 games that will shape the 2024 season "Fleming isn't a No. 1 receiver, but given the lack of proven options Penn State has at the position, it's safe to say he'll get plenty of touches in the new-look offense. Plus, if you've seen new of- fensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki's offenses at Kansas and Buffalo, you know how important it is for the scheme that the receivers can block. Flem- ing looks like a guy who loves pancaking corner- backs as much as he does catching touchdowns. He won't be a 1,000-yard receiver (or maybe he will!), but he's a perfect fit." — Tom Fornelli, CBSSports.com columnist, citing senior wide receiver Julian Fleming, formerly of Ohio State, as the Nittany Lions' most impactful transfer addition this year "They haven't scared elite programs with their offensive skill position guys since the Saquon Bar- kley and Trace McSorley days. You can talk about a million other things, but that's the real difference between them and the conference leaders. OSU and Michigan scare you with their talent. They have to hit that next level as an offense." — A Big Ten coach, quoted anonymously by Athlon, on the Nittany Lions' place in the Big Ten hierarchy They Said It "I think something we forget in this [level] of college football, when a lot of attention is brought to you, is that this is what it's all about. It's about being a part of something bigger than yourself, giving back and using the platform we have now to make a difference and be influential in the community. It's finding the beauty in the ordinary things. Being around and putting a smile on someone's face, I think that's the beauty of it." — Redshirt senior center Nick Dawkins on the Nittany Lion football team's visit to the Penn State Health Children's Hospital in Hershey, during which players met with pediatric patients and their families PHOTO BY GREG PICKEL