Drew Allar Scouting Report: Penn State QB | 2026 NFL Draft Prospect
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Player Overview
Name: Drew Allar
Position: Quarterback
School: Penn State University
Height/Weight: 6’5”, 241 lbs
Class: Senior (2025 season)
Hometown: Medina, OH
High School: Medina High School
Draft Projection: Early 1st round pick (Top 5–10) in 2026 NFL Draft, viewed as a potential QB1 with franchise cornerstone upside
• PFF: 1st round, Top 10, QB2 (May 2025)
• Pro Football Network: 1st round, Top 5, QB1 (Apr 2025)
• NFL.com: 1st round, Top 15, QB3 (Jan 2025)
• ESPN: 1st round, Top 10, QB2–3 (Jan 2025)
• CBS Sports: 1st round, Top 10, QB2 (Mar 2025)
• The 33rd Team: 1st round, Top 5, QB1–2 (Mar 2025)
Combine Data/Unofficial Times: No official NFL Combine data available (as of June 1, 2025). Estimated 40-yard dash time of ~4.90 seconds per NFL Draft Buzz, indicating functional mobility. High school stats included 9,103 passing yards, 98 TDs, and 15 INTs, showcasing elite arm talent.
Career Background
A five-star recruit, Drew Allar set Medina High School records with over 9,000 passing yards, leading to a 13-1 state championship and earning Ohio Mr. Football in 2021. At Penn State, he backed up Sean Clifford in 2022 before starting in 2023, throwing 25 TDs and 2 INTs for a 10-3 team. In 2024, under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, he improved, completing 67.4% of passes for 3,192 yards, 24 TDs, 7 INTs, and rushing for 285 yards and 6 TDs, guiding Penn State to an 11-2 record, a Big Ten Championship game, and a College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal. His December 2024 decision to return for 2025 aims to solidify his QB1 status for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career Stats (Through 2024 Season)
• 2022 (True Freshman, Backup): 35/60 (58.3%), 344 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, 52 rushing yards, 1 TD (Sports Reference)
• 2023 (Sophomore, Starter): 233/392 (59.4%), 2,631 yards, 25 TDs, 2 INTs, 206 rushing yards, 4 TDs (PFF 2023)
• 2024 (Junior, Starter): 231/343 (67.4%), 3,192 yards, 24 TDs, 7 INTs, 285 rushing yards, 6 TDs (PFF 2024)
• Career Totals (3 Seasons): 499/795 (62.8%), 6,167 yards, 53 TDs, 9 INTs, 543 rushing yards, 11 TDs
Advanced Stats (2024, PFF 2024):
• PFF Passing Grade: 85.6 (top-10 FBS)
• PFF Rushing Grade: 74.2
• QBR: 175.8 (NCAA, top-20)
• Total Offense: 3,477 yards, 30 total TDs, 7 INTs
• TWP Rate: 2.1% (7 TWP on 333 aimed passes), top-20 FBS, elite ball security
• Adjusted Completion %: 74.2% (231 completions + 22 drops / 333 aimed passes), above average, strong accuracy
• Sack Rate: 4.4% (15 sacks on 343 attempts), near median (~5.0%), solid pocket navigation
• Penalties: 2, below median (~2), minimal operational issues
• Drop Rate: 6.1% (22 drops), near median (~6.0%), slightly impacting completion %
Awards and Accolades
• High School:
• Ohio Mr. Football (2021)
• Elite 11 Finalist (2021)
• Greater Cleveland Conference Champion (2021)
• College:
• All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2023)
• Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP (2024)
• Big Ten Preseason QB1 (2025, Sporting News)
Character and Leadership
Allar’s 2025 return, forgoing a top-50 draft slot, reflects maturity and team commitment, earning praise from coach James Franklin for leading Penn State’s CFP semifinal run. His pre-snap adjustments (e.g., hard counts vs. Boise State, 2024) and resilience with a drop-prone WR corps (28 drops in 2023, Power Five-high) show leadership. A three-year starter with no off-field issues, Allar’s work ethic and clean record make him low-risk. X posts commend his poise, though some note big-game lapses (e.g., Ohio State).
Injuries
No major injuries reported at Penn State. Allar’s 6’5”, 241-pound frame ensures durability, handling contact well (e.g., Michigan, 2023). His 4.4% sack rate and 13.3% pressure-to-sack rate (20th FBS, PFF 2024) reflect solid pocket management, though he takes hits when scrambling. Adding strength could enhance NFL longevity, per The 33rd Team.
Play Style
Allar is a prototypical pocket passer with elite arm strength, thriving in Penn State’s pro-style offense under Andy Kotelnicki. His powerful arm delivers velocity-driven throws into tight windows and touch on deep balls (8.6 YPA, top-20 FBS). Functional mobility (285 rushing yards) enables play extension, but he’s not a dual-threat. Improved accuracy (67.4% completion, from 59.4%) and elite ball security (2.1% TWP rate) excel in structured plays, though he locks onto primary reads and struggles with pressure mechanics, per NFL Draft Buzz.
Strengths
1. Arm Strength: Elite velocity and touch across all levels (8.6 YPA, top-20 FBS).
2. Size and Durability: Prototypical 6’5”, 241-pound frame, built for NFL punishment.
3. Ball Security: 2.1% TWP rate (top-20 FBS), minimizing turnovers.
4. Pocket Presence: 4.4% sack rate, 51.9% completion under pressure (top-10 Power 4).
5. Pre-Snap Acumen: Adjusts protections and uses hard counts effectively, per Pro Football Network.
Weaknesses
1. Field Vision: Locks onto primary reads, delaying progressions vs. complex coverages.
2. Accuracy Variability: Misses in-stride throws on shallow routes (34.6% on 20+ yard passes).
3. Pressure Mechanics: Footwork falters under duress, impacting accuracy (13.3% pressure-to-sack rate).
4. Big-Game Consistency: Struggled vs. Ohio State (146 yards, 0 TDs, 2024), raising clutch concerns.
5. Limited Mobility: Not suited for RPO-heavy schemes (285 rushing yards).
Limitations
Allar’s field vision issues, particularly against disguised coverages, slow his processing, requiring faster reads for NFL defenses. His 34.6% deep-ball completion and short-route inaccuracies need refinement. Pressure-induced mechanical flaws (13.3% pressure-to-sack rate) and big-game lapses (e.g., Ohio State) suggest he’s not a day-one starter without coaching. His elite arm and size provide a high ceiling, but 2025 must address these for a Top 5–10 pick.
Scheme Fit
Allar’s arm talent, size, and pocket presence suit pass-heavy West Coast or vertical pro-style systems, ideal for an early 1st-round franchise QB role. Potential fits, based on 2025 QB roster analysis and team schemes, include:
• Cleveland Browns (Kevin Stefanski/Unknown OC): West Coast, play-action system (40% 12 personnel) lacks a franchise QB, with Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders competing. Allar’s arm and size make him a top-5 pick to stabilize the position, leveraging two 2026 1st-round picks.
• Las Vegas Raiders (Pete Carroll/Chip Kelly): Spread, pass-heavy offense (64% 11 personnel) needs a QB beyond Geno Smith (bridge, through 2027). Allar’s vertical passing fits a top-5 pick to lead the franchise.
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Mike Tomlin/Arthur Smith): Run-heavy, play-action system (42% 12 personnel) has no franchise QB, with Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson as stopgaps (Aaron Rodgers unsigned). Allar’s pocket passing and arm strength align with a top-8 pick, especially with the 2026 draft in Pittsburgh.
• Carolina Panthers (Dave Canales/Brad Idzik): West Coast, balanced offense (62% 11 personnel) may replace Bryce Young if he struggles in 2025. Allar’s accuracy and arm make him a top-10 pick to reset the position.
Teams with dual-threat QBs (e.g., Commanders, Eagles) or recent early-round picks (e.g., Titans, Giants, Saints) are poor fits due to scheme or roster constraints.
Player Comparisons
Ben Roethlisberger (6’5”, 241 lbs). Roethlisberger’s identical size, elite arm (7.6 YPA, 25 big-time throws, 2010), and clutch play (2008 Super Bowl) mirror Allar’s 6’5”, 241 lbs frame, 8.6 YPA, and 2024 Fiesta Bowl MVP performance. Both excel in pro-style systems, with similar functional mobility (4.75 vs. 4.90-second 40, 110 vs. 285 yards/season) and moderate turnover risk (2.5% vs. 2.1% TWP rate). Roethlisberger’s pressure resilience (70.0 PFF grade, 2010) reflects Allar’s potential, capturing his 2024 tape as a towering, strong-armed pocket passer with high football IQ, per PFF.
Off-Field Considerations
Allar’s five-star pedigree and Ohio Mr. Football award underscore his elite foundation. His early enrollment and adaptability under coordinators Mike Yurcich and Andy Kotelnicki show coachability. No off-field issues reported, and his CFP leadership earned X praise. Receiver drops (22 in 2024) slightly suppressed stats, per Pro Football Network.
Draft Outlook and Recommendations
Drew Allar’s elite arm, size, and ball security position him as an early 1st-round pick (Top 5–10) in the 2026 NFL Draft, with QB1 potential. His 2024 season (3,192 yards, 24 TDs, 2.1% TWP rate) and 2025 return signal franchise QB upside, but field vision and big-game consistency need work for immediate NFL impact.
Recommended Draft Range: Early 1st Round (Top 5–10, 2026)
• Ideal Landing Spots: Browns, Raiders, Steelers, Panthers
Key Areas for 2025 Improvement:
• Enhance field vision and progression reads
• Improve deep-ball and short-route accuracy
• Refine footwork under pressure
Final Evaluation
Drew Allar’s prototypical size, elite arm talent, and efficiency make him a top-tier 2026 NFL Draft prospect with franchise QB potential. His 2024 breakout and 2025 return offer a chance to polish processing and clutch performance, critical for a Top 5–10 pick. In a pass-heavy system, Allar could become a cornerstone, echoing Ben Roethlisberger’s big arm or risking Bortles inconsistency if he falters.
Sources
• PFF 2024 QB Stats
• PFF 2023 QB Stats
• PFF 2022 QB Stats
• NFL Draft Buzz
• The 33rd Team
• Pro Football Network
• Sports Reference
• ESPN
• The Athletic
• Bleacher Report
• Posts found on X
Comments