Penn State picks sophomore Drew Allar to be its starting quarterback in 2023
Penn State head coach James Franklin and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich have decided who their starting quarterback will be in 2023. Nittany Lion sophomore Drew Allar will be the first-team passer this fall, the program announced on Saturday before the team opens the year against West Virginia. The news ends a competition between Allar and classmate Beau Pribula. The former was always expected to be the choice. Now, he officially is.
“Obviously you’re going to learn a lot,” Franklin said Wednesday night. “I mean, he’s played, so we kind of have an understanding of that, but there’s a difference being the starter and playing starter type reps. So, obviously, at the end of the day, I want him to continue to play like he did last year, with poise, and really kind of a really good understanding of how to manage the game.”
Allar, who hails from Medina, Ohio, is the fourth starting quarterback of the Franklin era. Christian Hackenberg held the role in 2014 and 2015. Trace McSorley then carried the torch from 2016-2018. And, Sean Clifford was the first-team passer from 2019-2022. This is the first time Yurcich will start a quarterback that he recruited to Penn State. There will likely be some growing pains early as the former five-star settles into his new role as the leader of the Lions’ offense. But, on Tuesday, Franklin touted his preseason camp performance.
“I also want him to let the plays come to him,” Franklin said. “Because, with our running game, and with the weapons that we have at tight end and at wide receiver, he doesn’t need to force anything. He doesn’t have to feel like he’s got too much on his shoulders.
“Between our defense, our special teams our running game, I feel like we can go out there and just call the game the way we want to call it. But I want him to feel like ‘Hey, I got enough weapons around me. I just got to manage the game and allow my experience and confidence to grow as the season goes on.'”
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Allar now stands 6-foot-5, 242 pounds, according to the program’s newest online roster. He came to Penn State after shining at Medina High School. Allar is part of the Elite 11 fraternity and was ranked as the No. 28 player overall and No. 3 quarterback in the On3 Industry Rankings for the Class of 2022. He burned his redshirt last season after appearing in 10 games for the Nittany Lions. Allar completed 35 of 60 passes for 344 yards and four passing touchdowns. He also ran in for a score.
On Tuesday, Franklin made clear that the team likes what he has seen from all three of the team’s quarterbacks. Pribula will be the backup. Freshman Jaxon Smolik is behind him. Ultimately, though, this is now officially Allar’s team.
“I thought he had a great camp,” Franklin said Tuesday. “All of his numbers have been really good. And, going against a really good defense, and defensive back unit, has been a ton of value in that. Drew’s had a good camp, and a camp that has given himself and his teammates and coaches a bunch of confidence.”
