James Franklin grades Drew Allar, passing game Week 1 performance

Penn State football flexed its muscles to kick off the 2025 season, routing Nevada 46-11 inside Beaver Stadium on Saturday. Racking up 438 yards on the afternoon, it was a fitting showing from one of the most talented offenses in the country.

Leading the way for the Nittany Lions was Drew Allar. The senior quarterback didn’t show any signs of rust after the long offseason, completing 22 of his 26 passes for 217 yards and a score.

The performance was exactly what James Franklin expected to see from his third-year starter.

“I thought Drew played how I would expect him to play,” Franklin said Monday. “He was consistent. Made some big-time throws. He made a couple of out-breaking throws that very few college players and a handful of NFL quarterbacks can make. Wide field outs that he threw on time into some contested coverages as well.

“But I thought he played well. He made plays with his feet, he extended plays. He had that one run, like I mentioned after the game, that I would have liked him to get down a little bit faster; he took too many shots on that. But overall, I was pleased. Played very, very clean. Missed the first touchdown throw to [Kyron] Hudson, which I would have loved to be able to hit that throw. But besides that, I thought [he] played very clean.”

Drew Allar ➡️ Kyron Hudson

We heard a lot about the Nittany Lions’ transfer WRs this offseason. So far, so good. Hudson, Trebor Peña, and Devonte Ross combine for 9 catches for 107 yards in the first half #WeAre #PennState pic.twitter.com/7mW7qNzCvV

— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) August 30, 2025

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Allar was aided by two new additions to the Penn State passing attack: Kyron Hudson and Trebor Peña. The transfer portal receivers lived up to their lofty expectations during their Nittany Lion debuts, combining for 13 catches, 163 yards, and a score.

Hudson and Peña’s play was noteworthy given that Penn State receivers combined for 13-plus receptions only once in 2024.

“The passing game in general, that was an emphasis kind of going into the season. That was an emphasis in game one,” Franklin said. “We’d like to get [Devonte] Ross a little bit more involved. Like I mentioned to you guys earlier, he had missed some time this summer. But we’d like to get him involved.

“But I thought Hudson and Peña played well. Again, the tight end ‘committee’ I thought did some really good things. Once again, getting our running backs involved in the passing game, too. So, overall, good.”

Franklin “impressed” with Penn State backup QB Ethan Grunkemeyer

Backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer earned his first career touchdown with a six-yard rush. © Heather Weikel / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

Behind Drew Allar, we also got a look at redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer for only the second time in his college career. The recently named backup quarterback made the most of his extended playing time, going 7-9 for 86 yards and adding a six-yard rushing touchdown.

“Grunk came in and played well. I was very impressed with Grunk and his performance,” said Franklin. “I actually thought he played in the game better than he’s practiced at times. In terms of, he wasn’t holding on to the ball. He was decisive.

“When he did get pressure, he was able to step up in the pocket and find outlets quickly and get the ball out of his hand. The one to Cam Wallace, obviously, it was a highlight play where he hurdled [the defender]. And then the outlet throw to [Andrew] Rappleyea also was a big play. So, I was very pleased with how he played and how he managed the game overall. And then, obviously, to go down on a drive and score a touchdown and pick it up with his feet, that was positive as well.”

Nevada just got Grunked™️#WeAre pic.twitter.com/6BRzAXwJjt

— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) August 30, 2025

We will get our next look at the Nittany Lions on Wednesday evening before FIU comes to town this weekend.

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