Forget Drew Allar’s sparkling passing numbers in Penn State’s first three games and watch some video of him.
He looks different than he did last season when he appeared tentative and restrained. He seems confident, relaxed and free.
Brad Maendler, Allar’s quarterback trainer in Ohio, sees that, too, and smiles.
“I’m so excited for him,” Maendler said Wednesday. “This is the player that I know. One of the key action verbs for me is decisiveness. I don’t care who they’re playing. There’s a decisiveness about his game that’s a really positive sign. He’s trusting what he sees and letting it rip.”
That was often not the case with Allar last year, his first as the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback. He didn’t take many chances. He didn’t throw the ball downfield. It looked like he tried not to make mistakes.
He’s playing loose this season. He’s more patient and less hurried. He’s moving better in the pocket after dropping weight. He’s playing for an offensive coordinator, Andy Kotelnicki, who’s taking advantage of his strengths and making football fun again for him.
“I’m definitely a lot more confident and comfortable,” Allar said. “I think that’s from going through last season as a first-time starter. You don’t really know what it’s like till you go through it. I learned a lot last year.
“With Coach K coming in, I kind of turned the page and reset. I think I’ve done a good job of that so far.”
Ninth-ranked Penn State (3-0) begins Big Ten play against No. 19 Illinois (1-0, 4-0) Saturday night at 7:30 (TV-NBC) at Beaver Stadium. Allar will face a defense that has already intercepted seven passes.
It’s the first of a six-game stretch that will shape the Lions’ season. After Illinois, they play new conference members UCLA and USC, have off and then meet Wisconsin, Ohio State and Washington.
“There are going to be super physical games in this conference,” Allar said. “Illinois is a physical team that prides itself on being more physical than their opponents. We’re going to have to be up to the challenge.”
Last year, Allar struggled against Penn State’s strongest opponents: Ohio State, Michigan and Mississippi. He spent the offseason using those losses as motivation. His aim has been to be at his best against the best teams.
“He’s in as good a shape as he’s ever been in,” Maendler said. “You see that in the way that he moves in the pocket. You see that in the way that he picks up first downs. There’s definitely a different presence about him.
“He’s much more comfortable in his own shoes.”
If the Lions are to make a run at the Big Ten championship and a College Football Playoff berth, Allar will have to be on top of his game. It may have been too much to ask him to carry the weight of the offense on his shoulders last year.
He’s ready for that task this year.
“He’s a human,” center Nick Dawkins said. “I think sometimes we get lost in that given all the expectations that he has. I mean, the guy can’t walk around State College like a normal person because he’s going to get spotted by somebody. He has a different life than a lot of people do.
“There’s so much stuff he has to deal with. You would never even know it.”
Allar’s composure is part of the reason why he ranks second in the country in pass efficiency behind Jaxon Dart of Mississippi and ahead of Jalen Milroe of Alabama, Arch Manning of Texas and Cam Ward of Miami.
An outstanding, winning performance in a prime-time game against a ranked opponent would improve his national stature. He’s not focused on that; he’s focused on the process.
“His teammates understand how much time he puts into this,” Maendler said. “For some, playing the quarterback position is something they do. For Drew, it’s a lifestyle. It’s the way he approaches every day.
“That looseness, confidence and decisiveness is coming from a lot of different buckets: his work and preparation, the coaches around him, his teammates, the scheme. It’s all working together right now.”
