Penn State HC James Franklin said the team expects to have starting QB Drew Allar ready to play Friday.
To be clear, it’s only Monday, and Franklin said it was “too early in the week” to say, but added that all indications are that Allar will be ready for this week’s game against Michigan State at Detroit’s Ford Field Friday night.
Allar left Saturday’s game against Rutgers with an injury in the third quarter, and backup Beau Pribula played the rest of the game, which ended up being a 27-6 Penn State win.
Franklin gave a brief update on Allar’s status in his postgame presser, saying he didn’t “see this being significant, but we will see.”
Pribula held his own in Allar’s abscence against Rutgers. Although he only attempted one pass, Pribula ran the ball eight times for 71 yards and a touchdown. Prubila was also used before Allar went down, and Franklin said the team plans to use both of them Friday, and that should Allar not be able to go, Pribula would be ready.
Pribula has appeared in nine of Penn State’s 11 games, being used primiarly as a runner. For context, he’s ran the ball 52 times (311 yards, five touchdowns) and thrown the ball 18 times (eight completions, 90 yards), being used primiarly late in games where the outcome had already been decided.
Penn State could well beat Michigan State regardless of whether Allar starts. Michigan State’s 4-7 and will miss out on a bowl game for the second straight season. Penn State’s 9-2 and a seems to be a good bet to make a New Year’s Six game should it take care of business Friday.
