PSU's Drew Allar Ripped by CFB Coach, Says QB Doesn't Play Position 'Very Well'

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is considered a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, but several decision-makers in college football and the NFL aren't sold on him moving forward.

Speaking to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, an anonymous Big Ten assistant coach praised Allar's tools, while also panning his ability to operate an offense, saying:

"I wasn't a believer in him at all. I didn't get all the hype. But when we played him, it was like, OK, he's very gifted—he's huge, and he has an absolute hose for an arm. I just don't think he plays quarterback very well. He misses throws he shouldn't, but then he hits some oh my God! throws. Offense looks hard with him, though."

An NFL scouting director largely agreed, noting, "He's got tools, but as a player, I'm not fired up about him. The pictures have to be clear. He's kind of robotic with his decision-making."

Also, an NFL scout chimed in days before Penn State's 30-24 overtime loss to Oregon, and suggested that Allar is too conservative, saying, "I don't know if he's so afraid to make mistakes. You just want to see him cut it loose more."

Allar, 21, is in the midst of his third season as the Nittany Lions' starting quarterback, and he has experienced his fair share of ups and downs.

Over his first two seasons in a starting role, Allar went 23-6, and he took PSU all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season.

In 2023, Allar threw only two interceptions, while throwing 25 touchdown passes and scoring four touchdowns on the ground, but he also completed only 59.9 percent of his passes, so there was plenty of room for improvement.

He followed that up by setting new career highs with a completion percentage of 66.5 percent, 3,327 passing yards, 302 rushing yards and six rushing scores, but his passing touchdowns dipped to 24, and he threw a career-high eight picks as well.

Given his 6'5", 235-pound frame to go along with mobility and a strong arm, there was some thought that Allar would enter the 2025 NFL draft, but he would have been doing so on a negative note.

In Penn State's CFP semifinal loss to Notre Dame last season, Allar went just 12-of-23 for 135 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Allar still might have been a high pick in a draft that was light on top-end quarterback prospects, but he instead decided to return to PSU for one more season, contend for a national title and cement himself as a first-round pick.

Through four games, Allar is completing 62.8 percent of his passing attempts for 763 yards, six touchdowns and two picks.

He wasn't at his best in the home loss to Oregon, going 14-of-25 for 137 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, while rushing for 42 yards.

Allar Dime to Ross

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Allar did show some grit in the clutch, though, leading Penn State back from a 17-3 deficit in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdown passes, including one to Devonte Ross with 30 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

All of that went for naught, though, when Allar threw a game-ending interception in overtime.

There is little doubt that Allar still has to develop more consistency to succeed at the next level, but flashes of brilliance like the ones he displayed in the fourth quarter against Oregon could be enough to entice an NFL team to take a chance on him as a high draft pick.