Drew Allar is up for the biggest test of his young collegiate career. Oh, and it comes against the program didn’t offer him a scholarship until another top QB recruit reclassified.
Growing up an hour and 45 minutes away from Columbus in Medina, Ohio, Allar was the state’s best quarterback prospect and the country’s fifth-best quarterback in the 2022 Class. The top two recruits from Ohio both committed to the Ohio State.
On Saturday, Allar will lead No. 7 Penn State, into “The Shoe” to face No. 3 Ohio State in the biggest college football game of the season to this point.
Allar’s high school girlfriend Emma, even goes to Ohio State. She posted her support of Drew with a specialty-designed Allar shirt outside Beaver Stadium to start the season as he embarked on his first year as PSU’s starter.
OSU has experienced shaky quarterback play from Philadelphia native Kyle McCord. The St. Joseph’s Prep alum has thrown 11 touchdowns and one interception this season with a 64% completion rate.
Allar, only 19, has thrown 11 touchdowns and rushed four three through six contests and has yet to turn the ball over.
Leading up to the game, OSU head coach Ryan Day explained why the school didn’t heavily pursue Allar.
“He’s an Ohio kid who had a great career,” Day told the media Tuesday. “We already had Quinn Ewers committed to us. There was a reclassification, and at that point, he was already committed to Penn State.”
Ohio State coach Ryan Day on whether he recruited PSU QB Drew Allar: "He's an Ohio kid who had a great career. We already had Quinn Ewers committed to us. There was a reclassification and at that point, he was already committed to Penn State."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 17, 2023
Current Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers reclassified and entered school before the 2021 campaign. Ohio State offered Allar a scholarship after the Ewers decision, but the five-star quarterback ultimately chose Happy Valley as “the right place for me to go.”
Day went on to say that he has “a lot of respect” for Allar and Penn State.
“I think he’s done a good job in his first year,” Day said. “He’s had poise. He’s a big, strong quarterback who leads the team well and manages the game well. He has a good make up, and I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”
Allar has been rock solid for offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and head coach James Franklin after limited playing time last season behind current Green Bay Packers backup Sean Clifford.
Penn State prepares for its toughest challenge of the season with legitimate playoff hopes on the program’s mind. A win would jolt Penn State into the top four and have it breathing down Michigan’s neck. Many feel that, unlike in year’s past, Penn State has the better quarterback than Ohio State.
It’s up to Drew Allar to prove he’s up for the task.
