How is Penn State football developing Drew Allar this offseason?

Penn State football will roll out one of the most experienced signal callers in the country when Drew Allar lines up under center this fall. The former five-star quarterback led the Nittany Lions to the most wins in program history as a junior, getting within minutes of a national championship berth. Returning for his senior season, Allar has one final opportunity to get Penn State over the hump.

Allar took a step forward in his second season as a starter, improving his completion rate by nearly seven percent and increasing his passing efficiency by almost 17 points in 2024 compared to 2023. This offseason, the Nittany Lions coaching staff wants to build upon the physical progress they’ve made with Allar since arriving on campus in 2022.

“Physically, it doesn’t change,” Penn State football strength coach Chuck Losey recently said of the offseason development plan for Allar. “I told you guys last year, I think his big thing was body composition at that time. His body composition is in a much better place this year. But his big thing is movement economy, and making sure his short area of movement, mid-to-long distance speed, is there. And I think he flexed to get opportunities to flex it this past season.

“You guys saw the improvement in his pocket awareness and his ability to maneuver in the pocket and then his ability to actually get downfield and make plays with his legs. So that’s an area that I knew was going to be developmental for him, and I don’t think; I still think we got some more development to go with it, So his footwork, and foot speed, body composition, those will remain the focus for him.”

Franklin: Allar growing from tough end to Penn State football season

Penn State football quarterback Drew Allar. © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images.

The lasting memory that many have of Drew Allar from the 2024 season isn’t pleasant, throwing the eventual game-winning interception to Notre Dame’s Christian Gray with 47 seconds remaining in January’s Orange Bowl. But as the calendar turns to 2025, Allar and the rest of the Penn State football program are looking to learn from that difficult defeat and move forward.

“I think this experience this year will be helpful, very similar to what you’ve seen with other programs,” James Franklin said in February. “We understand what it’s [the College Football Playoff] like. You have a plan, you have a routine, you kind of go back and do an after-action review about how things went as a program. The players do that as well, and then you attack it.

“So yeah, I think everybody is as disappointed as you could be, you know, when it ends, but there’s also a ton to be proud of and appreciative of.

“But the most important thing is that we use every experience we have, both positive and negative, to get better and grow. That’s what I see all of our guys doing, including Drew.”

Penn State football returns to the field in 10 days, with spring practice kicking off on March 25.

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