Why Drew Allar Expects to Be 'Better' After Ankle Injury as PSU QB Eyes 2026 NFL Draft

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is currently recovering from a broken left ankle that ended his 2025 season, but he's expecting to return to full health as he prepares for a potential NFL career.

"I'm going to be a better version of myself out of this," he told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Monday. "The doctors said it's going to be stronger than before because of the type of surgery they did. It won't prohibit me from anything in the future or need to get it redone. A lot of guys have done it and come back. I'll be able to make a full recovery and not have anything to think about when I come back."

Allar came into the season as one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in the country ahead of the 2026 NFL draft. Neither he nor Penn State got off to a very good start, however, as he threw for 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions in parts of six games before suffering a broken left ankle while scrambling against Northwestern on Oct. 11.

By that point, Penn State was in the process of losing a third straight game in what would become a season-defining six-game skid. That not only extinguished the Nittany Lions' preseason championship hopes, and nearly their bowl eligibility as well, but also ended head coach James Franklin's tenure at the school.

It wasn't the best tape to leave NFL evaluators with, and Allar briefly explored avenues for a medical redshirt, though he wasn't eligible. But he believes he's already constructed an impressive body of work despite the lost season, especially after leading Penn State to the College Football Playoff semifinals last year.

"I've played a lot of high-level football," he told Thamel. "I have a lot of film to speak for myself. The best option for me is to move on to the next level."

His draft stock is murky, though most pundits are expecting him to drop down the board. B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked him at No. 121 on its latest big board, 12th among quarterbacks. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. doesn't consider him among the 10 best quarterbacks available for the 2026 NFL draft, while Pro Football Focus ranked him 150th on its latest big board.

"It's going to be on me to make the most of whatever opportunity is put in front of me," Allar acknowledged. "I have no idea [where I'll get picked], but whatever happens, happens."