Drew Allar leans on lessons from Sean Clifford, freshman experience as he steps in starring role

Penn State was one of the teams on the verge of playoff contention in 2022, but to get to the next level and actually make it will require a few things. Few are as important getting quarterback Drew Allar, who is getting Heisman talk, up to speed as a team leader.

Allar played primarily in mop-up duty behind Sean Clifford in 2022, but the freshman’s talent was undeniable. And he credits Clifford with speeding along his development.

“I mean I learned a lot of great things from Sean, just because he has a lot of wisdom just on the field and off the field just because his age, I guess,” Allar said in an interview before the start of winter workouts.

“He was really great for the whole room, but I think the biggest thing is never get too down or never get too high, just because you have to stay in the middle, especially as a quarterback. You have to be that kind of moderator. Can’t get too low on yourself because then the team can dip. And you can’t get too high because that’s when you can kind of just get sloppy with everything. So you have to stay in the middle.”

Still, it’s one thing to say it. It’s another entirely to do it between the lines on a fall Saturday.

Allar finished his freshman campaign 35-of-60 passing for 344 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. In 2023, though, he’ll be the man.

Drew Allar Heisman talk not the focus

Though he has gotten some Heisman talk as a former star recruit bound to step into the starting quarterback role for a potential playoff contender, Allar mostly shook off all the noise when meeting with reporters.

He believe he’s ready for his role as the team leader. A vocal leader, at that.

“I wouldn’t say it’s too different because Sean did a really good job with all of us in the room last year of making sure we were all prepared as the starter and we were preparing the same way as him, just because you never know when your name’s going to be called,” Allar said.

“Just stepping up from that standpoint, I think it hasn’t been a big transition for me because Sean was preparing us and coach (Mike) Yurcich and coach (James) Franklin were doing that since last year.”

Has the coaching staff done anything to help spur Allar into a bigger leadership role?

“They’re not just saying that we need leadership, they’re teaching us how to become leaders, which is very valuable to all of us,” Allar said. “I think just from my standpoint of becoming a leader is being more vocal. I think I’m doing a better job of it, but I know I can do a lot more with it.”