If we look at Drew Allar’s career at Penn State, he had more opportunities than some quarterbacks in the past, and while the game has changed, he still put together a strong resume.
He posted impressive numbers, made plenty of starts, and helped the team win games more often than not. The reality is that while some fans grew frustrated, he also did a lot of good during his time in Happy Valley.
No matter how people feel about him, Allar will now have a chance to prove both supporters and doubters right or wrong. He’ll get an opportunity to show whether he can stick in the NFL and develop into a potential star. However, some don’t believe his NFL career will live up to what he accomplished in college.
“Allar finished his Penn State career with 29 starts — and, frankly, I don’t think he comes close to approaching that many in the NFL. He also leaves Happy Valley by ranking among the top 5 in virtually every school passing category, from passing yards (7,402; fourth) to passing TDs (61; third). So, by that metric, would he need to make an NFL team’s Ring of Honor to surpass his college career? I’m not trying to split hairs here.
“I’m just saying that, despite a disappointing finish to his NCAA career, the odds are against him when it comes to his NFL career being any better. Allar undoubtedly has potential — but so did former second-rounder Christian Hackenberg. For every strong-armed project who turns into Josh Allen, there’s a handful that wind up in the disposal bin with the likes of Kyle Boller, Cardale Jones and Will Levis. Few Penn State fans would label Allar as 'clutch,’ and I think his tendency to struggle in big moments isn’t going to translate well to the next level,” Josh Moyer wrote.
It might be a bit unfair to say his struggles in big moments will automatically carry over to the NFL, especially when you consider the context. While he’ll face tougher competition at the next level, he’ll also have better supporting talent around him. At Penn State, that wasn’t always the case, particularly at wide receiver in key moments.