FOOTBALL

Penn State’s Drew Allar is finding himself a new role during spring ball

The Nittany Lions’ rising sophomore quarterback has found himself a new role this spring.

Published

2 months ago

April 5, 2023

Penn State football, Penn State's Drew Allar

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Since committing to the Blue and White as a member of the 2022 recruiting class, the former top-ranked recruit in the country has seen his fair share of hype. Drew Allar, a rising sophomore quarterback with the Penn State football team, is only 19 years old, yet is already facing a season full of massive expectations for him and his team. While James Franklin insists that Allar has not won the job yet, there is a good chance that number 15 will be rolled out as the Week 1 starter against West Virginia this September.

Despite the massive expectations for Allar and the Penn State football program, Penn State’s young star quarterback is taking things one step at a time — first comes spring, then the opener against WVU, and so on. Being a young face in a big place on one of the largest stages in college football, Allar is slowly finding a new role for himself as a leader amidst the chaos.

The hype surrounding Penn State’s Drew Allar is at an all-time high heading into the 2023 season

The hype surrounding Drew Allar among college football fans (and especially Penn State football fans) is incredible. Several factors have led to Allar becoming one of the most hyped players in Nittany Lion history, and the timing surrounding his commitment and arrival has been impeccable. When Allar initially committed, Penn State was in the middle of a down period — Penn State had just gone 4-5 in 2020 and was heading into a 7-6 season in 2021. With the No. 1 player in the nation on his way in, of course, Allar was predetermined by many fans to be the “savior” of Penn State’s program.

After having an incredible bounce-back season in 2022 — which saw Penn State football finish just outside of the top-5, win the Rose Bowl game, finish 11-2 overall, and more — the hype surrounding Allar’s first start has only been amplified.

Heading into a season full of incredibly high expectations for the 19-year-old gunslinger and the Nittany Lions’ program, Allar says he is locked in on what lies ahead and is stepping into a new role as a vocal leader.

Despite the noise, Allar and Penn State football are only focused on what lies ahead

During Tuesday evening’s media availability, media members had a chance to speak with the 6-foot-5 former five-star quarterback — there, the young Nittany Lion had an opportunity to comment on the expectations for his team this year and how he is dealing with them.

“I think we are a really competitive team, which is only going to help us by the time the season rolls around,” Allar explained. “I think we are competing against each other at a super high level right now, and it is only going to help us going into the summer.”

One of the best parts about playing for the Penn State football team is that you are going against some of the best players in the country every single practice. As the saying goes, ‘iron sharpens iron,’ which is precisely what happens during spring ball in Happy Valley. Still, even as a sophomore in college, Drew Allar will be considered a team leader and an offensive leader.

As a new season approaches, Penn State’s rising sophomore is finding himself a new role

When asked about what kind of leadership role he has, Drew Allar explained that he is starting to step into a new role with the Nittany Lions.

“I definitely feel like I am a little bit more vocal [than in the winter],” Allar said. “There is a lot of improvement across the board for everything for me, but I do feel like I am doing a better job of being more vocal at times. I do feel like I need to step up and be more vocal at times still, but I think overall the leadership as a whole is coming along. It might not be the same leadership as last year as far as the same type of leaders, but we could have more leaders than we did last year and more lead-by-example guys — the whole team is doing a really good job of that right now.”

Heading into the 2023 Penn State football season, the Nittany Lions are getting more competitive, and Penn State’s Drew Allar is starting to step into a much more prominent and more important role on the team as a leader both on and off of the field.

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FOOTBALL

Where will new 4-star Penn State football commit play on defense?

Penn State football landed a new four-star safety/linebacker. Where will he play in the Blue and White?

Published

42 mins ago

June 5, 2023

Chris Mangum

Sep 4, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Ji'Ayir Brown (16) is surrounded by teammates following the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday, the Nittany Lions had an impressive day on the recruiting front, securing commitments from three highly-touted prospects. Among these new additions, one player who stands out is Dejaun Lane, a talented four-star Penn State football commit. While Lane is listed as both a safety and linebacker, he has expressed confidence in knowing where the coaching staff plans to utilize him.

Where will Dejaun Lane play for Penn State football?

Lane’s commitment to Penn State football is significant for several reasons. Firstly, his addition brings a substantial boost to the team’s talent pool, as securing a player of his caliber is always a positive outcome for any program.

Furthermore, Lane’s versatility as a player allows him to be deployed in various positions, providing the coaching staff with flexibility and strategic options. Despite this flexibility, Lane himself has stated that he is already aware of the specific role envisioned for him by James Franklin and the Penn State football coaching staff during his time in State College.

“They like me at the safety position and I also like myself at the safety position because they incorporate many different blitzes, coverages and packages that would allow me to maximize my playmaker effect on the field,” he told Brian Dohn after his commitment. “The main takeaway that I got was that I was a priority and would really fit into the scheme.”

Lane can be flexed, but looking to take over the defensive backfield

While ON3 lists Lane as a linebacker, the 247 Sports rankings have him listed as a safety and are highly optimistic about his potential in this new position. They have recognized his talent by ranking him as a four-star recruit, placing him at the No. 21 spot among safeties in his recruiting class, and identifying him as the sixth-best recruit in the state of Maryland.

FOOTBALL

New Penn State football commit says PSU can win national title

The newest Penn State football commit is gunning for a national title.

Published

1 day ago

June 4, 2023

Chris Mangum

Penn State football, Deryc Plazz, national title, 2024 recruiting class

Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin celebrates with the trophy on the podium after the Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Today, Penn State football made an exciting addition to its 2024 recruiting class by securing the commitment of three-star offensive tackle Deryc Plazz from Florida. Shortly after joining the team, Plazz expressed his bold aspirations for Penn State’s future, confidently proclaiming that the program is poised to claim a future national title and more.

A future national title for Penn State football?

Freshly committed to Penn State football, Deryc Plazz wasted no time in immersing himself in the pursuit of the team’s first national championship since 1986. This promising three-star prospect from Florida showcased his ambitious mindset by sharing his optimistic vision for the future of football in Happy Valley.

“The current class is amazing and it’s truly a blessing to be a part of something this special,” Plazz said, according to Steve Wiltfong. “Looking to load this class up and bring a Natty to Happy Valley.”

Deryc Plazz, Penn State gunning to go above and beyond in the years to come

Plazz doesn’t just want to win a national title during his time at Penn State football, he believes that the Nittany Lions are on track to do so in the near future.

“What’s most exciting about the program is that we’re on track to win a National Championship and that’s the purpose of playing,” Plazz continued. “The opportunity to win a National Championship was the biggest thing. Just knowing that we will constantly be competitive in the college football playoff while and with this 24 class loading up I know we will definitely win it.”

A glass ceiling that needs to break

Currently, Penn State football is showing promising signs of being a strong contender for the Big Ten title and a spot in the College Football Playoff this upcoming season. Preseason polls from various outlets consistently rank the Nittany Lions within the range of No. 5-10, which is well-deserved considering their impressive 11-2 record and Rose Bowl victory under the leadership of James Franklin last year.

However, many projections still anticipate Penn State falling short against formidable opponents like Michigan and Ohio State, which would likely result in another New Year’s Six bowl appearance for the team.

While such a season would still be commendable, as being a top 10 program is an achievement in itself, it is encouraging to see the aspirations of Deryc Plazz and the rest of the 2024 recruiting class. Their desire to strive for greater success in the Blue and White during their tenure is a positive indicator of the program’s ambitions and the determination of its players, commits, and the team’s culture in the years to come.

FOOTBALL

Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith joins PA-based sports talent firm

The Penn State WR is the third Nittany Lion to sign with the firm since May.

Published

1 day ago

June 4, 2023

Matt Thomas

Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State Football, PA sports talent firm

Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (1) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On Saturday, it was announced that Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith had signed with Inch & Co. Sports, a new PA-based sports talent firm. Lambert-Smith becomes the third Penn State football player to sign with the firm in the last month. The founders of Inch & Co. Sports, John and Jeff Inch, and their larger network of PA-based companies, have become increasingly involved in Penn State’s NIL and athlete representation landscape over the last year.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith signs with PA-based sports talent firm

On Saturday evening, Inch & Co. Sports announced via its social media pages that the organization had signed KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The Penn State WR is coming off a budding end to the 2022 season, where he hauled in 8 catches for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Nittany Lions’ final two games. Reporting out of spring practice indicated that Lambert-Smith had separated himself from the pack of Penn State receivers.

“He’s been really good so far this spring,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said. “We need him to be THE guy, a true number one [receiver], not just at Penn State but really in the [Big Ten] and a guy that people are talking about nationally.”

Welcome @drelambertt ! pic.twitter.com/KzF4jkbo1H

— Inch & Co. Sports (@inchandcosports) June 3, 2023

Inch & Co. Sports establishes itself in the Penn State football NIL landscape

Inch & Co. Sports is a York County, PA-based sports talent firm. The company’s founders, brothers John and Jeff Inch, are credited with starting “one of the fastest growing real estate construction companies in the U.S.” According to the firm’s website, its mission is “Representing our athletes with integrity and originality…Whether it’s giving back to the underprivileged, monetizing their image, or guiding them through a professional decision; building trust through honesty is our goal.”

KeAndre Lambert-Smith is the third Penn State football player to sign with the organization since May. The firm first signed QB Beau Pribula, who was a standout at York Central High School, on May 16. Inch & Co. added CB Johnny Dixon later in the month.

Over the last several months, the Inch & Co. network of companies has been establishing itself in the Penn State NIL landscape. In December, the company made headlines when it provided Teslas via a NIL partnership to four Nittany Lions – QB Drew Allar, LB Abdul Carter, CB Kalen King, and OT Olu Fashanu. Pribula was added to the partnership several weeks later.