An NFL coordinator slams Penn State's coaching, citing a star QB's neglected development. Did the Nittany Lions derail a future top draft pick's career?
There was plenty of chatter about Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and the 2026 NFL Draft before the 2025 season.
Allar led the Nittany Lions to an appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinal in 2024. He would have likely been a Day 2 draft pick in the 2025 draft.
Instead, Allar chose to return in 2025. He struggled against Big Ten teams before suffering a season-ending injury against Northwestern in Week 6.
PSU's loss to the Wildcats would be Allar's final game in a Nittany Lions uniform and the final contest for James Franklin as head coach. He was fired after a 3-3 start and would find work months later as the head coach of Virginia Tech.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently quoted an NFL coordinator who thinks Allar has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 class. He has a scathing review of PSU.
"He's my favorite quarterback in the draft outside of Mendoza," the coordinator told Fowler about Allar. "In the right system, he can be great.
"He's got everything as far as tools. His footwork is an absolute mess. But if he improves his footwork, he can take off. He deserved better than what he got at Penn State."
Allar has plenty of skills he needs to work on in the league. Clearly, the coaching staff failed him before his final year in college.
Allar's lack of success was another reason for PSU to give Franklin the boot after just six games last year, even though the team had made a deep run in the CFP months prior.
Penn State had invested too many resources in Allar and the rest of the team to be 3-3. The lack of development was telling.
With that being said, Allar could have a high ceiling in the draft. If he goes to a team with a good quarterback coach, he can work on his footwork and timing to get up to speed in the league.
Allar has the physical size to play in the league. But he needs serious coaching to be an NFL starter, and that's something Penn State failed to give him.