FOOTBALL

Drew Allar is more than just arm talent, Mike Yurcich says

Penn State’s quarterback room is standing out this spring.

Published

2 months ago

March 28, 2023

Penn State football, Drew Allar, spring ball

Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

STATE COLLEGE, PA — The Penn State Nittany Lions are in the middle of their 2023 spring practices right now, which will lead up to the infamous Blue-White spring game on April 15th. So far, there have been many questions to address heading into a season full of massive expectations this fall, though Drew Allar does not appear to be one of them. According to Penn State football offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, Allar has been impressive during spring ball, not only with his arm, but with his vision and knowledge as well.

Mike Yurcich is impressed with Drew Allar thus far in spring ball

Drew Allar — the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class — has long been said to be the savior of Penn State football. Now, in fairness, the 19-year-old college student has not started a game in the Blue and White just yet and looks to take over a fairly young offense for the first time this fall. That being said, the tangibles are all there, and Allar has already impressed many during spring ball.

One of the people that Drew Allar has impressed thus far is third-year offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, who recently discussed how Allar is developing and what stands out to him the most during spring ball.

“I think he has really good vision,” Yurcich told the media last week. “I think he understands the game, he works really hard at it. He’s a tremendous worker.”

While Drew Allar has been Penn State’s standout so far, both Yurcich and Franklin have pointed to Beau Pribula as surpassing expectations this spring as well.

“To be honest with you, Drew [Allar] and Beau [Pribula] have been really impressive so far,” head coach James Franklin said. “You can tell they’ve worked at it.”

Penn State football does not have quarterback controversy, but it does have options when it comes to the QB room

While no one has come out and said it just yet, it is expected that Penn State football will role with former five-star quarterback Drew Allar in their season opener against West Virginia on September 2nd. That being said, while the Nittany Lions do not have a “controversy” in their QB room, the program certainly has options.

“From a rotation standpoint, obviously we would like you keep it as even as possible,” Franklin told the media during his first spring presser. “We kinda have it structured that was at practice. Specifically, with Beau [Pribula] and Drew [Allar] — we try to keep it as even, from a reps standpoint, as possible. Right now we really have it structured in a way, based on our depth right now, that all three of them will get the same number of reps.

“I think it’s really important in spring ball — at all the positions — that everybody is getting an opportunity to compete and develop … At some point we gotta transition and get ready for the first game. So the plan is to split the reps evenly and then, obviously as we start to get a little bit of bumps and bruises and have to adjust to practice … Right now we’re starting out even, reps across the board for all three of them and then — obviously specific to Beau and Drew — really making sure that we protect those two guys’ reps as much as we possibly can.

“There could be some situations where Beau actually gets more reps [than Drew Allar] by the end of spring because I think there’s some things that we may want to do with Beau to take advantage of his skillset. Maybe create an opportunity for him to get more experience, not only during spring ball but in games next [season] as well, so we’ll see how that all plays out.”

With two different skillsets on the table, Penn State football has options at quarterback. From what we can tell, Drew Allar is living up to the hype in the staff’s eyes.

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FOOTBALL

Penn State football: CFB analyst claims Nittany Lions are ready to beat Ohio State, Michigan

According to a major analyst, this could be the year for Penn State football.

Published

7 hours ago

May 29, 2023

Chris Mangum

Penn State football, JD Pickell, Michigan, Ohio State

Nov 5, 2022; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) runs the ball past Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Dasan McCullough (0) during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Rarely in the history of Penn State football under James Franklin has there been such an overwhelming sense of anticipation as there is now heading into the 2023 season. Just a year ago, fans held a wide range of expectations, but not a single soul could have predicted that the Nittany Lions would conclude the season with an impressive 11-2 record, securing a top 10 ranking and clinching a victory in the Rose Bowl against the PAC-12 Champions. A prominent college football analyst, JD Pickell of ON3, recently stated that Penn State is poised to finally surpass both Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten.

Hype is building for Penn State football

It is no secret that Penn State football is widely regarded as one of the premier teams in college football at present. The Nittany Lions boast an abundance of talent from last year’s roster, which was among the nation’s finest, despite losses to Michigan and Ohio State.

In order to elevate themselves to the next level and establish their position as contenders for the Big Ten title and the College Football Playoff, it is imperative for Penn State to conquer both the Buckeyes and Wolverines.

According to Pickell, the upcoming 2023 season presents a perfect opportunity for Penn State football to achieve all of these objectives.

JD Pickell says Penn State might be ready to beat Michigan, Ohio State in 2023

Here is what ON3 analyst JD Pickell had to say on his show, The Hard Count, about Penn State football and their hopes of climbing back to the top of the Big Ten in 2023.

“They’re getting a lot of hype now and for good reason,” Pickell said. “What would Penn State fans typically say going into last season? ‘Really good roster. Nick Singleton, we’re excited about him, but we just don’t know with Sean Clifford. How far can Sean Clifford take us?’”

“There was a feeling around Penn State that Sean Clifford was a really good quarterback, but was he a really great quarterback? Was he gonna be enough for you to beat Michigan and Ohio State? The eventual answer to that question was not necessarily was Penn State good enough collectively — Sean Clifford included — to beat Michigan or Ohio State in 2022.”

Pickell further highlighted key players in the Penn State football lineup, including Drew Allar, Olu Fashanu, Kalen King, Nick Singleton, and others, as compelling reasons to be optimistic about the Nittany Lions’ prospects this upcoming season.

He concluded his analysis by affirming that the necessary components for success are already in place for James Franklin and his coaching staff as they prepare for the 2023 season: all the pieces of the puzzle have come together for the Nittany Lions.

“All these things on paper are aligning for Penn State to go and slay the dragon,” he said. “To go and beat Ohio State. To go beat Michigan. That’s the mission now for Penn State.”

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

FOOTBALL

2023 Penn State football coaching staff adds NFL experience to its ranks

This week, the 2023 Penn State football coaching staff added more NFL experience to its ranks.

Published

14 hours ago

May 29, 2023

Chris Mangum

2023 Penn State football coaching staff, Ola Adams

Nov 20, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on from the sideline during the third quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Rutgers 28-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this week, the 2023 Penn State football coaching staff made a notable addition with the inclusion of Ola Adams. Adams, previously an assistant with the Denver Broncos and a seasoned defensive play-caller for the Villanova Wildcats, brings valuable experience and expertise to the Nittany Lions as they prepare for their upcoming campaign.

Excited to join the coaching staff at @PennStateFball. Huge thanks to Coach Franklin & staff for the opportunity. Also want to give thanks to the Denver @Broncos organization for the opportunity to work for a first class program last season. Looking forward to this new chapter! pic.twitter.com/aTX23NHvwr

— Coach Ola Adams (@CoachOlaAdams) May 24, 2023

2023 Penn State football coaching staff adds NFL experience with new hire

Under the leadership of James Franklin, the 2023 Penn State football coaching staff has undergone several minor changes, but the recent addition of Ola Adams stands out. Adams, who previously served on the coaching staff of the Denver Broncos, has joined the Penn State Nittany Lions as a defensive analyst in preparation for the 2023 season.

Adams’s background in the NFL proves to be an invaluable asset for James Franklin, especially considering the talent and potential carried by the Nittany Lions in their upcoming schedule. Before his tenure with the Broncos, Adams served as the defensive coordinator for the Villanova Wildcats at the Division 1 FCS level, which adds to his credibility as he joins James Franklin’s staff.

As an analyst, Adams’s role will not involve direct involvement in play-calling or player development. Instead, his extensive knowledge and experience will be utilized in analyzing film, scouting players, and evaluating opponents. The addition of Adams strengthens the Penn State football program with another NFL-minded individual, further enhancing their prospects.

The Nittany Lions face high expectations this season, and Adams’s presence on the coaching staff alleviates some of the pressure on the 2023 Penn State football coaching staff as they approach summer training and the opening game against West Virginia on September 2nd.

FOOTBALL

Penn State football updates roster with new enrollees

Penn State gave us our first look at the newest additions to the Nittany Lions football team.

Published

21 hours ago

May 29, 2023

Matt Thomas

April 15, 2023. Tyler Warren (44) and Theo Johnson (84) join the Penn State team in singing the alma mater following the 2023 Blue-White Game. Credit: Grace Carella // Basic Blues Nation.

Nearly halfway through the first summer session of classes, Penn State football has welcomed a slow trickle of new enrollees over the last month. Last week, the football program updated its roster with the numbers and measurables for the newest additions to the Nittany Lions football team. While the roster will likely be updated again before the start of the 2023 season, this update provides us our first glimpse at the progress made by these players since we last saw them on the field with a previous school or on the recruiting circuit.

Penn State football unveils numbers, lists heights and weights for new enrollees

Last week, Penn State updated its official roster for the 2023 season with the new enrollees who have arrived on campus recently. In addition to the four transfers who joined the team in May, Penn State also listed the eight freshmen from the class of 2023 who arrived in the last several days. The roster includes updated heights and weights for the new enrollees, as well as the number each will wear this fall for the Nittany Lions:

Tyriq Blanding (DT), freshman – No. 39; 6-1, 265 pounds.
Dante Cephas (WR), transfer – No. 3; 6-0, 180 pounds.
Audavion Collins (CB), transfer – No. 29; 5-11, 175 pounds.
Alonzo Ford (DT), transfer – No. 50; 6-2, 280 pounds.
Kaveion Keys (LB), freshman – No. 48; 6-2 195 pounds.
King Mack (S), freshman – No. 9; 5-10; 175 pounds.
London Montgomery (RB), freshman – No. 24; 5-10; 180 pounds.
Joseph Mupoyi (DE), freshman – No. 56; 6-5; 240 pounds.
DaKaari Nelson (S), freshman – No. 8; 6-3; 200 pounds.
Trey Potts (RB), transfer – No. 23; 5-9; 215 pounds.
Andrew Rappleyea (TE), freshman – No. 87; 6-4; 235 pounds.
Cam Wallace (RB), freshman – No. 26; 5-9; 175 pounds.

Some highlights of the roster update include transfer Alonzo Ford, who Penn State has listed as shorter and nearly 10 pounds lighter than Old Dominion had him last season. Incoming freshmen London Montgomery and Cam Wallace will need to bulk up to catch the rest of the running back room, with both weighing in at 180 pounds or less. Finally, Andrew Rappleyea comes in with a solid frame for an incoming freshman at 6-4, 235 pounds.

More on the way

The final pieces from Penn State’s class of 2023 will arrive on campus this summer before the start of fall camp. There are four more signees who will join the team before the 2023 season, including Jameial Lyons (DE), Chimdy Onoh (OL), Mason Robinson (DE), and Carmelo Taylor (WR).