Latest news with #DrewAllar
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Penn State's offensive line is built for a playoff run in 2025
The offensive line has been an up-and-down unit for Penn State in recent years, but that's about to change. Heading into the 2025 season, the Nittany Lions return four out of five starters, a level of continuity that's rare in college football. This group is experienced, physical, and finally built to push around elite defenses. When you have that kind of chemistry in the trenches, everything else opens up. The quarterbacks stay clean and the running backs find lanes. The whole offense breathes easier. For a team that wants to make a legit playoff run once again, having a veteran line is exactly the foundation you want. Drew Shelton has been tested on the edge and continues to improve every year. Nick Dawkins and Vega Ioane also provide critical depth and flexibility. If injuries hit, the drop-off won't be major. That's what makes this line so scary. These aren't just big bodies; they're leaders who know how to win in the Big Ten. What separates this O-line from past Penn State units is balance. These guys aren't just built to run block or pass protect, they can do both at a high level. You saw glimpses of it last season when they controlled the line of scrimmage in big games, but now the expectation is domination week to week. In short-yardage situations, this group can lean on people. In passing situations, they can give Drew Allar the time he needs to go through his reads and take deep shots. There's no glaring weakness. Every guy on this line plays with an edge, and they've been through enough together to trust each other when the pressure hits. If Penn State's offensive line stays healthy and plays to its potential, this team can absolutely win the Big Ten and make a push for the College Football Playoff. Success for this unit means keeping Drew Allar clean, helping Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen hit 1,000 yards again, and setting the tone every Saturday. A disappointing year would mean inconsistent protection, missed blocks in key moments, or lack of push in short-yardage. But right now, everything is pointing in the opposite direction. This offensive line isn't flashy and that's exactly why it works. It's built to dominate in silence and take Penn State where it's trying to go.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penn State QB Drew Allar facing pressure of high expectations in 2025
The Penn State Nittany Lions are coming off one of the most successful seasons under head coach James Franklin and will enter the 2025 season with high expectations placed upon them. After a shot at a Big Ten title and a run to the College Football Playoff semifinals, Penn State should be hungry to take the next step and bring home some championship gold in the 2025 season, and the pieces are in place for that level of success. Of course, a lot of that relies on the performance of Penn State's best players on the roster in the biggest spotlight opportunities. Starting quarterback Drew Allar enters his third season leading the Penn State offense, and he has been one to have some ups and downs in the position. Allar's numbers tend to be good, but they could be better in the toughest matchups against teams like Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon. Armed with an NFL-caliber arm and a new wid erecweiveing corp from the transfer portal, and one of the Big Ten's best offensive lines and running back stables behind him, Allar will face some pressure to get this Penn State team to take the next elusive step toward being a national championship contender, if not a favorite. Here is a look at one of the biggest pieces of Penn State's 2025 season, the starting quarterback. 2024 in review Drew Allar improved on his overall stats and efficiency in 2024 compared to his first season as Penn State's starting quarterback in 2023. Allar had one fewer touchdown pass thrown in the 2024 season despite playing in more games during Penn State's postseason run, but his completion percentage increased, as well as his total passing yards. This is despite not really having a strong connection with his wide receivers all season long. Allar was reliant on All-American tight end Tyler Warren, as any quarterback should have been, and he did take advantage of some opportunities with receivers at times, but the season ended without a single completion to a wide receiver in Penn State's College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. Allar's biggest blemishes came in the biggest spotlight, unfortunately, with a bad interception in the Big Ten championship essentially gifting Oregon a touchdown from the one-yard line and setting up Penn State's fate in the playoff, leading to a game-winning field goal by Notre Dame. For the season, Allar completed 66.5% of his passes, but he was below 60% in each of Penn State's four postseason games, including the Big Ten championship game and three College Football Playoff games. Biggest question in 2025 Drew Allar will face some tough questions in the 2025 season. The first is how he comes back after the way last season ended. But the biggest question will be how effective Allar is with his new wide receiving corp. Penn State added some experienced wide receivers to the roster from the transfer portal, each with good stats at their previous schools. Allar will need to get in rhythm with his new receiving targets and establish a new trust in his tight ends under the leadership of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who is in his second season with the Nittany Lions, calling the plays for the offense. 2025 will be a success if... Simply put, if Drew Allar is connecting with his wide receivers far more frequently and effectively this season, Penn State should be in great shape for another fun postseason run. With all of the other ingredients in place for a solid offense, the difference maker will be Allar continuing to improve his game and use his receivers with bigger and more consistent results in the passing game. 2025 will be a disappointment if... If Allar does not put up better numbers in the biggest games on the schedule, then Penn State will likely suffered a similar disappointing fate at the end of the year. To his credit, Allar had some good numbers against Orgeon in the Big Ten championship, but his two interceptions didn't help the cause, and his untimely interception against Notre Dame was a sting that would carry over into the offseason. Allar was also without a touchdown in the game against eventual national champion Ohio State last season, a 20-13 setback at home. If Allar comes out without a win against Ohio State and Oregon again, and takes an early exit in the postseason, this will be a disappointing end result. Realistic outlook for 2025 We should be about to see the best Drew Allar has to offer. In his second season under innovative offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and with a new trio of wide receivers to trust, Allar should have a chance for another 3,000-yard season with 25 touchdowns en route to another playoff run that could include another shot at a Big Ten title. Allar could cut down on his interception total of eight last season as well. Allar should play well enough to put up the kind of numbers that will continue to keep him on the radar as a potential first-round NFL draft pick in 2026. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Best is still to come for Penn State QB Drew Allar in 2025
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Drew Allar looks to cement his legacy at Penn State in 2025
Drew Allar has been under the microscope since the day he set foot on campus. Five-star recruit, future of the program, the guy who was supposed to take Penn State to the next level. Now in 2025, everything comes down to this one season. It's not about talent anymore — it's about legacy. Allar hasn't exactly been a letdown. Statistically, he's done well. He's approaching 6,000 career passing yards, with over 50 touchdowns and a pretty low turnover rate. He's led Penn State to double-digit wins and a College Football Playoff appearance. That's nothing to shrug off. But let's be honest — around here, greatness is measured by wins in big games. And while Allar has shown flashes of being elite, he's still missing that one signature moment that etches your name in Beaver Stadium history forever. This final year is his chance to grab it. The bar is high. This offense is stacked. Running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are each back, much to the delight of head coach James Franklin. The O-line is experienced. Tight ends are deep. Wide receivers are quietly underrated. And now, Andy Kotelnicki is running the offense — someone who knows how to put his QB in a position to dominate. Allar isn't being asked to 'manage' games. He's being asked to take over. To lead 75-yard drives with the clock ticking. To put the team on his back in Columbus. To turn potential into production when it matters most. That comes with pressure — but Allar's built for it. He's never been the loudest guy in the room, but when it's time to deliver, he's got that calm, commanding presence every top QB needs. To be remembered as one of the Penn State greats, it's simple: win big games. That means beating Ohio State. That means staying composed on the road. That means getting to Indy and finally breaking through in the Big Ten. It doesn't mean he has to win the Heisman or throw for 4,500 yards. It just means leading. Making throws when it matters. Being the reason Penn State gets over the hump. This is the most stable and experienced team Franklin has had in years. That gives Allar the platform — now it's up to him to deliver. If he can take this team to another playoff run — or even better, a Big Ten title — there's no debate. He'll go down as one of the most important quarterbacks in Penn State history. But if things fall short again? If the offense stalls or he fades in big moments? People will ask what could've been. Drew Allar has one last ride in Happy Valley. And what he does with it will define how he's remembered forever.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Drew Allar ready to overcome Big Ten hurdles in 2025
Drew Allar was most likely under the most pressure out of any Big Ten football media day representative for the Nittany Lions this week in Las Vegas. After all, when you're quarterbacking one of the most hyped up teams in your school's history, chances are you carry a heavier burden than your teammates and maybe even your coach. Thus, when questions arose surrounding how Penn State could change its narrative this season, it was Drew Allar's responsibility to address those topics. Needless to say, he did so in an honest way. "We definitely need to get over that hump," Allar said on Wednesday at Big Ten Media Day. Blunt and straight to the point. While the Nittany Lions have had quite the prolific period under James Franklin, they have only won four games in his tenure against teams ranked in the AP Top 10. Allar knows what's at stake. It's how he will play in those kinds of games that will separate him from true Penn State legends or those who were so close to the mountaintop, yet seemingly so far from reaching it. It was Allar's crucial interception against Notre Dame in the CFP semifinal that effectively cost Penn State its shot at a national title. Allar seemed to be saying the right things when it came down to those close situations late in games. "We definitely need to find different ways to come out with different results in those games," Allar said. "We haven't really been blown out of the water by any team. ... It's just about execution ... finding those areas to make one or two more plays throughout those games. ... That's going to be our focus." While Allar certainly has the expertise to execute his goals, it's Penn State's critics that he has to prove wrong. While Penn State has certainly had its support in certain media circles due to its preseason poll rankings, there are still detractors who think Penn State will be the same old, same old squad. The team that perennially never wins the big games. The team that always shoots itself in the foot. However, Allar is a year older with vital CFP experience under his belt, something that not a lot of new Big Ten QBs have the benefit of. Thus, Allar feels more confident than ever that Penn State can get over that proverbial "hump."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drew Allar is Penn State football's leader. Which former Nittany Lions did he learn from?
Drew Allar was mentored by past teammates. The Penn State quarterback on who helped shape his leadership skills.
