Drew Allar will return to Happy Valley for the 2025 season.
The Penn State linebacker told his coaches his plan to opt out of the 2025 NFL Draft and return for his senior season, ESPN reported Monday. News of Allar’s decision came on the heels of quarterback Beau Pribula’s announcement that he was entering the transfer zone.
In a draft considered relatively weak for quarterback prospects, Allar is considered by some to be a cornerback who could help their draft stock heavily in the College Football Playoff. He showed all-around improvement in his second season as a starter, completing 69.1% of his passes for 2,894 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions to go along with 279 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
FOX Sports NFL Draft expert Rob Rang noted that Allar “took a big step as a pocket passer” before his four-touchdown performance (three passing, one rushing) in Penn State’s loss to Oregon in the Big Ten title game. Rang also noted that Allar’s attributes, build (6-foot-5, 238 pounds) and “cannon” arm, as well as his ability to not turn the ball over (nine interceptions on 733 pass attempts), will excite scouts in the draft. process.
But that plan will be put on hold for at least another year. Allar’s return will position Penn State to be one of the top teams in the Big Ten and the nation in 2025. It also rules out another interesting name in the 2025 NFL Draft and leaves some lingering uncertainty about quarterback prospects. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami (Fla.’s) Cam Ward are the only two quarterbacks included in Rang’s latest mock draft, going second and 27th, respectively.
Of course, Penn State still has to advance to the College Football Playoff before the program and Allar are fully ready for the 2025 season. Penn State earned the No. 1 seed. 6 and will host 11th-seeded SMU on Saturday. If they win that game, Penn Still will face third-seeded Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
If Penn State were to make a run to the title game, that would cause Allar to change his mind. You will have until Jan. 24 to do so. That’s the deadline for the College Football Playoff National Championship draft declaration. All other players have until Jan. 15 to decide.
Drew Allar connects with a running Harrison Wallace III for a TD, extending Penn State’s lead over West Virginia.
In case Allar changes his mind, Penn State has Ethan Grunkemeyer waiting in the wings. The freshman was a four-star prospect in the class of 2024, ranked as the 103rd best prospect in the class through 247 Games. Grunkmeyer will likely replace Prigbula as Penn State’s backup quarterback for its CFP program based on its projected depth charts from the start of the season.
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