Penn State Sports Magazine
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3 2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M "It's something I've always wanted," he said. "I hold myself to a high standard, and I also have my guys here who are go- ing to be right there with me. I feel like we're going to get it done." A Savvy Receiver Hagans is reluctant to talk in specif- ics about any member of his room. He prefers to discuss the overall expecta- tions for his group rather than singling anyone out. However, he does like what he's seen so far from Wallace. "Just like the rest of the guys, he shows up ready to work every day," Hagans said. "I think we have a good group of guys who are in that same boat. They prepare the night before, they show up and they take care of their bodies, and they're investing their personal time. I think it's becoming a way of life. It's be- coming our culture. It's cool to see him, but other guys are doing that, too, which makes you proud to be their coach." Redshirt senior cornerback Jalen Kimber, who has been competing oppo- site the receivers since transferring from Florida in January, was willing to offer specifics and said the buy-in from Wal- lace, and all of the wideouts, has been noticeable. "Trey Wallace is a great receiver," Kimber said. "He has a lot of experi- ence. He's pretty savvy in his routes, so he knows how to get open. And using his tools helps us as well. He might do something that I've never seen before. I might go up to him and ask, 'Hey, why did you do this, XYZ?' That might help me overall and my teammates." A lot of hope has been invested in Wallace during the past two seasons. Franklin has repeatedly said that Penn State needs him to be not only its No. 1 receiver but also one of the best players at that position in the Big Ten and the country. At times, Wallace has shown he has all the tools to do so, but concerns about his durability have persisted. Wallace knows it. It's why he enters the fall with a chip on his shoulder. He believes the injuries of the past are more about bad luck than anything else, and that this will be his year to shine. "The injuries that I've had and just the feeling of not being out there with my guys — it kind of took a toll," Wallace said. "But I'm coming into the season healthy and ready to get out there. This group is pushing for me to be my best, the coaches, defense, everybody. For us to go where we want to go, all the receiv- ers have got to be ready to contribute and put their strengths on the field." ■ PFF Envisions Drew Allar Making Strides In 2024 Junior quarterback Drew Allar has only played one season as a starter, and for the most part it was successful. Nevertheless, Allar was cited by Pro Football Focus analyst Mitch Kaiser in July as one of five players who will "bounce back" in 2024. A year ago, Allar posted a 59.9 percent completion rate while throwing for 2,631 yards and 25 touchdowns with just 2 inter- ceptions. But in regular-season losses to Ohio State and Michigan, he and the offense could not muster the output needed to win, and when Kaiser did a deeper dive into the num- bers, he found areas for improvement. "The Penn State signal-caller has the tal- ent and traits desired in an NFL quarterback, with arm strength being a standout qual- ity that excites draft scouts," Kaiser wrote. "However, he underperformed in his first year as a starter in college football, throwing for less than 3,000 yards and completing less than 60% of his passes. "Allar recorded only 12 big-time throws last season, and he finished the year averaging a very modest 6.7 yards per attempt. His 2.9% big-time throw rate ranked tied 71st among 86 qualifying Power Five quarterbacks. "The Penn State offensive line also strug- gled last season, allowing 128 pressures on 428 dropbacks. Despite this, Allar excelled at avoiding sacks, with his 10.2% pressure-to- sack ratio ranking 16th in the FBS. His perfor- mance under pressure was less impressive, though, as he earned a 56.5 passing grade under pressure compared to an 87.4 grade from a clean pocket." Allar has been cited by some draft analysts as a potential first-round pick next year, but those appraisals are predicated on the junior excelling in Penn State's revamped offense. Kaiser, whose list of bounce-back players also included South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders, Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin, LSU linebacker Harold Perkins and Utah tight end Brant Kuithe, noted that Penn State's signal-caller can put himself in a favorable position. "Allar has areas to improve, but he is a better quarterback than his statistics suggest," Kaiser wrote. "If head coach James Franklin and new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki can build the offense around him, Allar has the potential to live up to his high school hype and rise up draft boards." — Greg Pickel Allar completed 59.9 percent of his passing attempts last year for 2,631 yards. PHOTO BY FRANK HYATT