Joel Klatt states Drew Allar 'jumped on the sword' after late-game interception

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt defended Penn State QB Drew Allar despite the latter throwing the proverbial game-ending interception against Notre Dame.

Klatt credited the Penn State signal caller for owning up to the mistake and facing the music. Not many college kids could’ve handled that type of spotlight, especially after a game like that.

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Allar’s original comments about the decision-making are below and Klatt credited him.

“Yeah, I mean, I was going through my progression, got to the backside, and honestly I was just trying to throw it at his feet but I should have just thrown it away,” Allar said. “I felt the first two progressions not open just because of the situation we were in, but I was just trying to throw it at Amari’s feet, but just didn’t execute what I was trying to do.”

“He just jumped on the sword right there,” Klatt said on his podcast. “Drew Allar just stood up like a man and took the bullet. I got so much respect for him right there. I got so much respect for, first of all, showing up like that and just and just doing that interview, that takes guts, and it takes a lot of courage.” 

In fact, Klatt defended Allar’s decision-making on the play. It wasn’t all on the QB and it could result in a breakdown of the offense or just good defense by Notre Dame.

“Here’s the reality of the play. And this is, and I want you to listen closely, Drew Allar is gonna live with that for the rest of his life,” Klatt said. “It wasn’t totally his fault. Okay? The reality is that is a progression read. It’s man coverage. So he’s reading a progression, one to Tyler Warren into the flat on the left, two to the corner route up top. It’s not there.

“I believe that was Trey Wallace and three to Amari coming in on the dig route from the wide side of the field. And for anybody that’s ever played the position, when you have to throw the ball downfield to your third receiver. Very rarely are you ever going to be on platform, meaning, like fully, totally protected, in rhythm, feet underneath you.”

Allar finished the game 12-of-23 passing for 135 yards and one interception. However, he’s reportedly set to return to the school in 2025 for one more run at a title.

Perhaps there’s a redemption arc for Allar and Penn State next season with another crack at the College Football Playoff.