Like with most teams, Penn State football’s success in 2024 will depend on its quarterback, and that man is Drew Allar.
Allar came to Penn State three winters ago as a five-star recruit.
Allar looked like a five-star for portions of last season— his first as a starter— and as a result, he ended up posting solid numbers.
He threw for 25 touchdowns against just two interceptions, ending with 2,631 yards and completing roughly 60 percent of his passes.
But there were times when he looked like far less than the player Penn State and its fans expected to see.
Allar struggled in Penn State’s biggest games. In the team’s regular-season losses at Ohio State and at home against Michigan, Allar combined to go 28 of 62 for 261 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. In the team’s Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss, Allar put up better numbers, going 19 of 39 for 295 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. But a chunk of those numbers took place in “garbage time” near the end of the game.
It remains to be seen how 2024 will go for Allar, but one outlet projects that he’ll be one of the best in the country by season’s end.
Penn State QB Drew Allar is projected as a 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist, according to NFL draft and scouting website https://t.co/cfHrkKlB90 — owned and run by Penn State alum (and former student of mine) Walter Cherepinsky. Details: https://t.co/zaQOCrYrGD
— Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) July 9, 2024
WalterFootball.com, an outlet that specializes in scouting and NFL Draft projections, predicts that Drew Allar will be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
In an article written by Charlie Campbell, Allar’s a finalist along with Georgia QB Carson Beck, Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders (runner-up) and Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (winner).
“There is no doubt that Allar has a powerful arm and the potential to be a dangerous pocket passer,” Campbell wrote. “Allar (6-5, 243) has a lot of talent, but he may not have enough talent around him to push him to Heisman status.”
Penn State’s last Heisman finalist was QB Michael Robinson, who placed 5th in 2005.
