Watch: Penn State QB Drew Allar speaks on Media Day
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar spoke with the media on Saturday afternoon during Penn State’s 2024 Media Day. Hear what the Nittany Lions starting quarterback had to say about leadership, the new offense, and his new offensive coordinator, Andy Kotelnicki.
Allar is more comfortable in the new offensive environment
There’s been plenty of chatter this offseason about developing leadership among the players, especially on offense. As the starting quarterback, most fans and media look to Allar in that role. As a self-described introvert, it’s been a journey, but the new offensive chemistry has helped him.
“I’m definitely a lot more comfortable,” Allar said. “One of the best things I think we’ve done as an offense this year with Coach [Kotelnicki] was about developing leadership in the spring when he first got here and then now we’re enabling leaders. We’re having guys present different things.
“Not only for me, but a bunch of other guys that just aren’t comfortable with public speaking because it’s definitely a skill you have to practice and work on, being comfortable with just being vulnerable and open discussions and talking more in front of bigger crowd of your peers and teammates, and just telling them what needs to be said even if it’s something that you don’t want to say.”
Time and life at Penn State have helped Allar too
There are certain things you can only learn through time. Allar had a great mentor in former starting quarterback Sean Clifford, who set a great example. But Allar discussed how you can’t really know what it’s like to be the starting quarterback until you’ve lived it.
“Obviously, I was able to learn behind Sean during my first year, but I didn’t really know what he was going through. I could have plenty of conversations with him, and I did, but it’s like it’s different when you go through it. I’ve learned a lot of things over the past year about just in general football life, and I think I’ve been able to really apply that, and I just feel a lot more comfortable being me. And you know, I’m just going to be myself at the end of the day and go out and play.”
Penn State has its first padded practice of training camp on Saturday evening. Be sure to follow along at Blue White Illustrated for more camp and practice updates throughout the day. As always, subscribe to the site to get access to premium articles and insight from the leader in Penn State Fooball and fooball recruiting.
