Penn State head coach James Franklin names Drew Allar backup for Week One: Press conference
Penn State head coach James Franklin met with the media for the start of the 2022 season on Monday morning. The Nittany Lions take on the Purdue Boilermakers Thursday in a primetime kick to start conference and season play. The day’s news was that Franklin and his staff named five-star quarterback Drew Allar the backup quarterback to start the season.
“Drew Allar is our backup quarterback for Week One. That’s not a set-in-stone thing for the entire year. That’ll continue to be a competition and fluid, but Drew Allar is the backup quarterback.”
Penn State going with young blood behind Clifford
When asked what Allar did to earn that honor, Franklin explained that it was an outright win for Allar in training camp and not a function of circumstance,
“Because when we take all of the information, coaches opinion based on gut and experience, data on everything we keep track of, we think Drew has earned that opportunity.”
Franklin also touched on the idea that starting the season against Wisconsin last year prepared Penn State to go on the road at Purdue to start the season.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
Pinegar earns starting job
Franklin also announced that Jake Pinegar will be the kicker for the Nittany Lions after winning his competition in camp.
“He’s earned that throughout camp,” Franklin said. “He’s had a really strong camp. I’m really proud of him. I used him as an example with the team the other day. You’re talking about a guy in today’s day and age, you know with the transfer portal, here he is as a guy who was a two-year starter for us and then ends up losing his starting role and doesn’t just run the transfer portal at the first sign of adversity,” Franklin said.
Franklin discussed the depth of his team during the press conference as well. That conversation took on different forms, including the fact that Penn State will play three guards between redshirt freshman Landon Tengwall, Sal Wormley, and transfer Hunter Nourzad after all three earned the right to play. He also discussed how the team is back to having enough depth this season to create competition that pushes the starters and raises the level of play throughout the roster.
Penn State plays Purdue on Sept. 1 on the road, which is the 12th conference road start in 13 years for the Nittany Lions. Catch premage coverage starting at 7 pm with BWI Daily Edition and then post-game coverage starting 20 minutes after the conclusion of the game.
