As Spring ball progresses at Penn State, one of the major storylines for the Nittany Lions involves how head coach James Franklin handles his veterans. Fresh off a College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinals appearance, Penn State is well-positioned heading into the 2025 season. However, Franklin had a surprisingly long list of items for senior starting quarterback, and returning captain, Drew Allar to work on. Interestingly, something he did not list is a bigger unlock for his signal caller. Overall, Spring practice started with some curious quarterback comments at Penn State.
James Franklin’s Curious QB Comments
Speaking of Drew Allar, Franklin said, “He needs to take another step when it comes to his mobility. He needs to take another step when it comes to his leadership. He needs to take another step in terms of his completion percentage. Needs to take another step in terms of his touchdown-interception ratio. […] Just being transparent, I will say I don’t think it’s one necessarily specific thing. It’s all of it.”
Allar’s statistics and measurables were solid and have improved over the past few years. What Franklin only barely touched on (with the leadership comment), and where Allar really needs to take his next step, is in the intangibles. In the immediate future, he needs to build rapport with his new receivers. Additionally, he needs to finally win the “big” game, more specifically a contest where Penn State is not favored. While the relatively vague and textbook answer from Franklin was likely a way to answer the question without a real answer, they were very curious quarterback comments as Spring Practice starts at Penn State.
Statistically Speaking: Mobility
Drew Allar has put up statistics that would be the envy of most starting quarterbacks. In his two seasons as Penn State’s full-time starter, he has improved. Of note, he continued to develop while playing for two different offensive coordinators. His statistics are good enough to win a national championship. That is what makes Franklin’s quarterback comments so curious.
The first area mentioned by Franklin is Allar’s mobility. In last year’s preseason, Allar was lauded for the development he showed in mobility. It is important to remember that Penn State has arguably the best running back room in the nation with Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Despite that, Allar produced on the ground last season. He was third on the team with 302 rushing yards. He added six rushing touchdowns. If Franklin wanted a dual-threat running quarterback, he had one. However, backup Beau Pribula is now in Missouri after entering the transfer portal at the beginning of last season’s playoff run.
Statistically Speaking: Throwing the Ball
Allar’s stats in the passing game will be difficult to improve. This will be his second season in coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s offense. He will be working with Singleton and Allen again, who also contribute in the passing game. The offensive line should be a strength. However, Allar will also need to break in new receivers (Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross), who came to the team via the transfer portal. Tight end Tyler Warren is off to the NFL, and his production will be difficult to replace.
Franklin mentioned that Allar’s completion percentage needs improvement. In his first season as a starter, Allar completed 59.9% of his passes. Last year, that improved to 66.5%. Yes, improving his completion percentage is possible. Consequently, Allar would need to take fewer chances down the field. In that scenario, defenses can begin stacking the box to stop short passes, which also adds to the difficulty in running the ball.
A related stat, also mentioned by Franklin, is Allar’s touchdown-interception ratio. Like completion percentage, maximizing this stat has other ramifications. In 2023, Allar’s first season as a full-time starter, he had 25 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Last season, with more chances taken downfield, that ratio was 24 touchdowns to eight interceptions. However, his yards per attempt increased 25%, from 6.8 in 2023 to 8.4 in 2024. The incremental interceptions were a cost of a more balanced offense under Kotelnicki. Regardless, 49 touchdowns to 10 interceptions over two years is very impressive.
What Really Needs to Improve
It is no secret that Allar and the Penn State offense have teed off on lesser competition. The statistics look very different when he faces the best competition. Allar turns into a pedestrian quarterback at best against the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame. That is where he needs to improve, in approach and attitude.
While he did not mention this big game dynamic in his Spring practice Allar assessment, Franklin likely realizes this. To help, Franklin went back to a prior Penn State quarterback to help out. Trace McSorley was hired during this offseason as an assistant coach. If he helps Allar step up in the biggest of contests, he will provide a great return on investment.
Spring Practice is only 15 days. The greatest accomplishment coming out of the cycle will be good health across the roster and rapport built between Allar and his new weapons. Allar, as a returning captain from last season, should be more focused on leading the team and building the mental fortitude to compete with the best. That will ensure success more than looking to satisfy Franklin’s curious quarterback comments at Penn State.
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