Will Drew Allar see more action for Penn State on Saturday?

Penn State football freshman Drew Allar has been the talk of the season, and the hype is only getting bigger.

While Penn State football is 4-0 and starting quarterback Sean Clifford is playing well, many still have their eyes on 5-star freshman Drew Allar.

Allar saw limited action against Central Michigan this past Saturday. The Nittany Lions did not blow out Central Michigan early like many expected, leading to the starters staying in until the midway point of the fourth quarter.

Allar has played in all four of Penn State’s game, meaning his next snap will officially burn his redshirt. That was never much of a concern though, because if Allar lives up to his 5-star rating, there would be no need for a fifth season in college.

So far this year, Allar has gone 12 of 19 for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He has shown plenty of promise, but has also had some freshman moments, which are to be expected.

With Penn State playing a struggling Northwestern squad this upcoming Saturday, Allar’s playing time was a hot topic during James Franklin’s media availability on Tuesday.

Getting Allar experience is important for not only his future, but this season as well. Clifford has dealt with injuries the past few years, so the backup needs to be ready to go if called upon.

While it’s not likely Penn State rotates between the two quarterbacks each drive, we could see Allar come in early in the game if Penn State is leading 14-0 or a score along those lines. This allows Allar to receive reps when the game still means something and against the opposition’s starting defense.

Franklin must balance playing to win this season while also preparing for the future. The experienced Clifford may give Penn State the best chance to win right now, but Allar’s ceiling could take the Nittany Lions to the next level in 2023 and beyond.