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Penn State strength coach Chuck Losey details strides made by Drew Allar this offseason

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•03/02/23•

GregPickel

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Penn State quarterback Drew Allar watches his teammates during a winter workout inside of the Lasch Building. (Pickel/BWI)

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State quarterback Drew Allar has been the talk of the Nittany Lions’ offseason. That didn’t change here on Thursday night, even if the second-year passer was not among the participants in an open winter workout session open to reporters.

The former five-star was one of many Lions bouncing around the renovated Lasch Building weight room to encourage teammates since their own work was already completed. Not all of them made their presence known at squat rack after squat rack. But, the Medina, Ohio native certainly did. He was frequently nearby as a fellow roster member attempted to lift the maximum weight he could in the squat lift. And, even though it may not have been entirely visible to the naked eye, what he was doing showcases an area of growth between the time the 2022 season ended and now.

“He’s done a good job in the sense that he’s pushed outside of his comfort zone,” head strength coach Chuck Losey said. By nature, Drew is probably not the loudest person you’ll ever ever meet. He’s loud on the field when he’s commanding the offense, obviously. But just his disposition, his nature, he’s not an attention-seeking guy.

“But I’ve seen him during our workouts, during the winter workouts, in the weight room. He’s put himself in uncomfortable situations where he’s forced himself to speak up to other guys. So in that sense, I’m really proud of him.”

It’s a quality that will be demanded of Allar if and when he wins the starting job under center to replace Sean Clifford. But, it will take much more than that, of course, to fend off Beau Pribula. Because of it, he’s progressed in other areas, as well.

What was the Penn State plan for Drew Allar this offseason?

Losey is in his second season as the lead strength coach for James Franklin’s program. However, he’s been here for 10 years and has trained athletes at all positions under mentor Dwight Galt, whose job he took when Galt retired. Thus, he knows well that each player has a different set of areas to focus on each offseason. And, he knew precisely what Allar’s were.

“Drew, being at the quarterback position, you’ve got to have durability,” Losey said. “So that was one thing with a tall, lean frame like Drew had when he first came in, one of his main objectives was to put muscle mass on, which he’s done a great job. It’s in the excess of 25 pounds since he’s been here. And he looks great. He looks like a defensive end right now.”

On signing day for the Class of 2022, Penn State listed Allar at 225 pounds. Now, however, he tips the scales at 238. It’s right where the program wanted him to be at this point. And, a teammate is at least partially to thank for it.

“Really happy with his progress,” Losey said. “He’s put on a little lean mass. He was probably behind from a strength and power standpoint, and speed, when he first got here. And I’ll tell you what, he’s closing the gap on a lot of guys at that position. Beau is kind of an elite athlete when it comes to speed, strength and power. So I think the combination of having Drew, who was probably behind the curve when he first got here, and having somebody like Beau in the same room and those two in the same class, it’s really benefited Drew.”

Now, the two are ready to compete for the right to lead the Lions this fall.

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