Penn State Football: bold predictions for some of Nittany Lions’ top-rated freshmen

Penn State Football quarterback – Drew Allar

With Sean Clifford returning as the starting quarterback, it is unlikely that anyone will take that spot from him before the season kicks off.

Drew Allar checks all the boxes from a physical measurables standpoint, but the jump from high school to Big Ten football is a big one, especially for quarterbacks. He likely needs time to develop mentally, in aspects such as reading more complex defenses, running a more complex offense, timing, anticipation, and pocket awareness, all while the speed of the game is much faster than what he is used to, and the windows he is expected to throw to get much smaller.

So, with all this in mind, don’t expect anyone other than No. 14 to be under center to begin the season.

Allar might have a much higher ceiling than Clifford in the long run, but he is still only an inexperienced, 18-year-old true freshman. Remember, the ‘five-star’ label put on prospects is a three-to-four-year projection, not what they are expected to be from the moment they step on campus.

What might be Drew Allar’s ceiling in his first season in the black shoes and basic blues?

Well, the former five-star prospect is more than capable of earning the backup quarterback job.

Now, that job is presumably still Christian Veilleux’s until either he gives it up, or someone else takes it from him. Although, Veilleux is plenty good enough to retain that position, and he is unjustly overlooked in the quarterback room, but as time passes and Allar gets more and more comfortable, it will become increasingly more difficult for Veilleux to win that position battle.

Prediction:

By the time fall camp wraps up, Drew Allar will have earned the backup quarterback position, but that’s not all.

When Allar gets his opportunities to play, whether it be late in a game when the outcome is no longer in doubt, or if Sean Clifford goes down with an unfortunate injury, Allar will look very good, and provide the fanbase with a boatload of optimism about what is in store for his future.