Will Drew Allar's biggest spring objective take Penn State to new heights this fall?

As you can probably imagine, it took Penn State quarterback Drew Allar some time to move on from the Lions’ final loss of 2024. Speaking for the first time this spring in the days leading up to what should be his final Blue-White game in State College, the senior admitted that he was ‘not in a good state’ for the next week as the program collectively tried to transition from being on the doorstep of the College Football Playoff title game to the realities of the offseason. By the time the team kicked off winter workouts a few weeks later, however, the Ohio native was ready to move on.

“I was really able to flush it at that point, because that’s something to really look forward to it and build off of,” Allar said. “So, as soon as I really stepped in that weight room for the first time with that first lift group of this cycle, like that’s when everything started to click for me again, and just kind of flushing all of that stuff from the past, but definitely learning from it.”

Fast forward to late April, and unless someone brings that time period up, it’s all a distant memory to Allar. He says he learned from last year’s key moments, not just the ones against Notre Dame in the semifinals but all of the highs and lows from his second year as a starter. He found his voice as a leader, an area in which he has improved, but still feels he can be better. His game went to another level, too, as both a thrower, runner, and on-field director for offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. For Penn State to get where it wants to this year, though, it must do so again.

Putting a plan into action

Allar is admittedly routine-oriented. That’s part of what made the time off between mid-January and early February so difficult. There was a game-week rhythm to the preceding four and a half months that extended further than it had in his career. Then, following three final drives that included an interception leading to the Fighting Irish’s game-winning field goal and a mere 16 total yards, it was all gone. It goes without saying that the bounce back was difficult. But, it had to be accomplished, and the time in the weight room with head strength coach Chuck Losey and in the meeting room with head coach James Franklin, Kotelnicki, and Penn State quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien, helped Allar move on. Together, they devised a plan for the spring. Franklin touched on it in his opening news conference of the spring.

“He needs to take another step this year, which we think he’s done every year he’s been here,” Franklin said. “He needs to take another step when it comes to his mobility. Needs to take another step when it comes to his leadership. He needs to take another step in terms of his completion percentage. Needs to take another step in terms of his touchdown-to-interception ratio.

“It’s really all of it. There are some things we’ve had some conversations with Danny O’Brien that those conversations will stay between us, but I would say just being transparent, I will say I don’t think it’s one necessarily specific thing. It’s all of it.”

“All of it” is cliche and vague. That does not mean it isn’t true.

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Allar developed into a potential 2025 top-10 pick in 2024. But, he decided to come back with goals of taking Penn State to a place it hasn’t been before this year while cementing his draft stock for 2026. And, to him, “all of it” started with one specific focus, and sat atop the plan he set out to accomplish this spring.

“I had a lot of goals that I had for myself, but my biggest was just overall consistency, just with everything that I do,” Allar said. “Just, between my routine before practice, post practice, and just the way I operate throughout practice. And I think I’ve done a good job with that so far. Always trying to continue to build my leadership vocally, and just do everything that I can to put myself in uncomfortable spots to allow me to grow more. And I think I’ve done a good job with that so far.

“It’s something that I was always going to keep grinding at. Because, it doesn’t come naturally to me at times. So just trying to better myself with that sort of thing. There’s been a lot of things that I’ve been proud of through this spring cycle. I’m excited to re-watch all this spring after it’s done, and then learn what I need to get better at going into the summer and into fall camp.”

It all doesn’t fall on just Allar, of course

Penn State needs more than just Allar to take its season one game further this fall, of course. The receivers must be better. Tyler Warren’s production must be replaced. New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles must both install his defense and then have some new faces and some returners execute it at a high level. In other words, the season does not solely rest on Allar’s right arm. But, a large chunk of it does. The senior knows it. And, if his plan leads to continued development, he and the Lions will like where they’re at when the new season begins.

“It comes down to, like, one or two plays a game,” he said. “It’s a handful of plays throughout a game that can get us to the position that we want to be in. I think we saw it last year. We don’t have a shortage of talent on our on our team, that’s for sure. And obviously, we have a great coaching staff. So, it comes down to execution at the end of the day.”