Drew Allar: Penn State football aims to be ‘the best offense in the country’ in 2024

It’s been over six months since the end of the 2023 Penn State football season, a year in which the Nittany Lions’ offensive woes took center stage. New offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki was brought in as a course correction, with objective No. 1 being to get the most out of Drew Allar in what could be the junior quarterback’s final season in Happy Valley.

With kickoff against West Virginia a little over seven weeks away, it’s soon time to see how Andy Kotelnicki and the Nittany Lions can turn the page on last year.

Recently speaking with Blue White Illustrated, Drew Allar expressed that, internally, expectations are set high for the Penn State offense in 2024.

“I’m really excited with the progress that we made from spring ball,” Allar said. “I think the commitment is at an all-time high since I’ve been here. The culture is really good on the offensive side of the ball. We’re pushing each other; defense is pushing us. We’re pushing the defense throughout workouts and our skill instruction. So it’s been really good. A lot of healthy competition.

“And I think offensively, and my goals for the season: just be the best offense in the country. That’s always going to be our goal. And fortunately enough, we’re going against what’s going to be, again, one of the top defenses in the country. So it’s going to test our abilities day in and day out when we get into fall camp. But we’re up to the challenge.”

Penn State wide receiver room “ten times ahead” of spring progress

© Dan Rainville/USA Today Network

Front and center for Penn State football this fall will be potential improvements in the passing game. In 2023, the Nittany Lions ranked No. 77 in yards per game (215) and No. 91 yards per completion (11.36).

Drew Allar believes the Nittany Lions’ aerial attack is poised for a turnaround in 2024. Recently, the junior quarterback praised the progress made by the wide receiver room this offseason.

“They’re ten times ahead even from where we were in the spring,” Allar said. “And I think it’s really been three leaders in that room: Trey [Wallace], Liam [Clifford], and [Julian] Fleming. I think they’ve taken it upon themselves to change that culture.”

Julian Fleming enters the year as the only Penn State receiver with more than 600 career yards – a feat he accomplished during his four years at Ohio State. The most proven pass catcher returning from last season’s Nittany Lion roster is Tyler Warren, who has 606 career yards and 11 touchdowns to his name.

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