Why Penn State Football Should Be Encouraged by Drew Allar
Drew Allar has faced criticism, and some of it has been warranted. As a young starter, he struggled in key matchups and openly acknowledged his need for improvement.
However, it’s essential to consider the broader context. With a full season of experience, Allar is poised to feel more at ease and self-assured within Offensive Coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s system. This increased comfort level can translate into better on-field decision-making and execution.
Furthermore, the coaching staff might adjust the offense to better align with Allar’s strengths, thus enhancing his potential for a breakthrough performance in the upcoming season.
Allar joins Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker (2022) as one of the few FBS quarterbacks to have thrown 25 or more touchdown passes with two or fewer interceptions in a single season.
At the start of the season, Allar impressively went 251 pass attempts without throwing an interception. This streak ranks as the sixth-longest in a season since 2000, trailing only Louisiana Tech’s Colby Cameron (428 in 2012), Oregon’s Marcus Mariota (285 in 2013), Western Kentucky’s Tyrrell Pigrome (278 in 2020), NC State’s Ryan Finley (274 in 2017), and West Virginia’s Geno Smith (273 in 2012).
In 2023, Drew Allar achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the only Big Ten quarterback since 2000 to start a season with 175 or more pass attempts without throwing an interception. This performance resulted in him recording the lowest interception percentage (0.51) in a single season in Penn State history. Additionally, he made history by becoming the first quarterback at Penn State to throw for 10 or more touchdowns before throwing an interception in a season.
By the end of the season, Allar’s accomplishments continued to stack up. He ranked third in a single season at Penn State for touchdown passes with 25, fifth in touchdowns responsible for with 29, sixth in completions with 233, seventh in attempts with 389, ninth in completion percentage at 59.9, and tied for ninth in 200 or more yard passing games with 7.
Furthermore, in his debut starting season last year, Drew Allar began with a victory over West Virginia on September 2nd. This marked a significant milestone as he became the first Penn State quarterback since Michael Robinson in 2003 to throw for over 300 yards in his first career start, achieving a total of 379 yards. Additionally, Allar was the first Penn State quarterback to surpass the 300-yard mark in a season opener since Christian Hackenberg’s impressive 454 passing yards against UCF in 2014.
Notably, Drew maintained an outstanding touchdown-to-interception ratio of 12.5-to-1, ranking second nationally only behind Oregon’s Bo Nix (15-to-1). He also tied for the Big Ten lead in passing touchdowns with 25 (placing him 18th nationally), and finished second in points responsible for with 176 (tying for 26th), fourth in passing efficiency (136.9), fourth in passing yards (2,631), and fifth in yards per pass attempt (6.76).
Despite facing challenges such as a troubled wide receiver group and the departure of Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich, Drew Allar managed to have a highly productive first starting year. However, many speculate on the potential he could have unlocked if these offensive issues had been addressed.
As the 2024 season approaches, several factors suggest that this year will be different for Allar. With everything falling into place, there’s a strong possibility that he will elevate himself to become one of the top quarterbacks in the nation.
Allar possesses the necessary talent, experience, and support to excel in his second full year at Penn State. With these elements in place, he is poised to reach new heights and make a significant impact on the field in the upcoming season.
