A day after LSU QB Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is among the top 10 early candidates for 2024, according to Brad Crawford of 247Sports.
EARLY 2024 Heisman Candidates, via @BCrawford247 🏈
READ: https://t.co/bhVONq5ua6 pic.twitter.com/ex1MfOWu7C
— 247Sports (@247Sports) December 10, 2023
Allar is one of nine quarterbacks on the list, with Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon being the only non-QB.
The other eight QBs are: Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Georgia’s Carson Beck, Kansas’ Jalon Daniels, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart— who Allar will be playing against Dec. 30 in the Peach Bowl— Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Cam Ward, who played at Washington State but is in the transfer portal.
In Allar’s first season as Penn State’s QB1, the team went 10-2. The former five-star from Medina, Ohio finished the year with 23 touchdown passes and one interception, completing more than 61% of his passes and throwing for 2,336 yards. Allar’s first season as starting QB had plenty of highlights— such as his 325 yard, three touchdown, no pick performance in his first career start against West Virginia Week 1— and some lowlights, such as his poor performances against Michigan and Ohio State.
At Ohio State, Allar went 18 for 42 for 191 yards and gave a brutal self-critique, telling reporters after the game he “sucked” in the 20-12 loss.
Allar wasn’t any happier three weeks later when Michigan beat Penn State in Beaver Stadium.
In that game, he went 10-for-22 for 70 yards and had a crucial fumble early in the second half.
But overall, Allar’s season was encouraging enough for Penn State fans to be excited about their QB heading into 2024. He’ll undoubtedly need help at receiver, though. Aside from KeAndre Lambert-Smith, no Penn State WR eclipsed 300 yards this season, so that’s a huge area to watch during transfer portal season.
