James Franklin making Ohio State prepare for Drew Allar and Beau Pribula amidst injury concerns

During his Monday media availability, Penn State head coach James Franklin didn’t reveal much about the health of his starting quarterback. Drew Allar injured his knee near the end of the first half in Penn State’s 28-13 win over Wisconsin and was unable to return to the field in the second half. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula led a second-half comeback and now it appears that Franklin is hoping to make head coach Ryan Day and the rest of Ohio State’s coaching staff prepare for both QBs this week in the lead-up to their top-5 matchup at Beaver Stadium. 

“It’s too early to tell at this point,” Franklin said about Allar’s injury and his availability for Week 10, “But he’s played enough football that I think that decision will go all the way up to game time.” Adding, “The reality is, we’re going to have to have both (quarterbacks) ready.”

That last part was more for the brain trust in Columbus and Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles than any of the reporters assembled in Happy Valley. Coming out of halftime trailing 10-7 Pribula led two touchdown drives and finished 11/13 passing for 98 yards and a touchdown with another 28 yards on the ground. The Penn State offense changed quite a bit with the more mobile backup in the game. 

First-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki came to Penn State from Kansas where he has success with Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean, two dual-threat QBs. Kotelnicki has successfully molded his offense to fit the strengths of the 6-foot-5, at times statuesque Allar but waded back into familiar waters once Pribula entered the game. While the redshirt sophomore, who came to Happy Valley the same year as Allar, didn’t gash the Badgers on the ground, the threat of his legs opened up the run game for Kaytron Allen. The junior running back, and healthiest member of Penn State's backfield, finished with 86 yards and a touchdown after rushing for just 36 yards in the first half with Allar at QB. 

Penn State’s offense is at its best with Allar. He has the arm strength to attack all levels of the field and can do it as a true dropback passer. 10 of Pribula’s 13 attempts came either within nine yards of the line of scrimmage or behind it, and 64.3% of his dropbacks featured play-action, a huge jump from 24.5% usage with Allar. The Pribula offense is much more gimmicky than the style that Kotelnicki wants to play with Allar on the field, but against Wisconsin, the gimmicks worked, and now Knowles has to prepare for them. 

James Franklin certainly knows more about Allar’s health than he’s willing to reveal and until the Big Ten follows the SEC’s lead and forces coaches to do a weekly availability report, he should use this uncertainty to his advantage. Remember, Franklin is 1-9 against Ohio State, so he needs all the help he can get. 

Pribula was impressive in relief, but Penn State needs its starting quarterback to beat the Buckeyes, and it’s unlikely we’ll know if they have him until right before the Noon kickoff on Saturday.