Last Dance or Another Chance: Drew Allar
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (15) fires the ball downfield against Ohio State. Photo credit to original owner.
Setting the Scene
Players across all sports go down in history for having legendary playoff runs. Think of Nick Foles in 2017, who won the first Super Bowl in franchise history for the Philadelphia Eagles after replacing an injured Carson Wentz. In 2011, Dirk Nowitzki ran the gauntlet of playoff teams in the NBA West, including the defending champion Lakers and a Lebron James-led Miami Heat team, beating them all without an all-star teammate, securing the first NBA title for the Dallas Mavericks.
But in collegiate sports, things can be a little different. While Foles and Nowitzki had been in their respective leagues for years before their big moments in the playoffs, they continued to play for years after that as well. At the collegiate level, you only get four years (although, that seems to be changing). You not only play to win a title or etch your name in history, but you play to secure a future in the big leagues. You play to have the chance to get drafted and become Dirk Nowitzki.
College sports still have their postseason stars, however, and those stars saw their draft stock soar due to their excellent runs of form when everything was on the line. Kemba Walker’s run in the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament at UConn was one of the most prolific runs in the history of the tournament. Walker was subsequently drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets).
Ohio State’s Jaxson Smith-Njigba grabbed the attention of fans and scouts alike with his 2022 Rose Bowl performance, when JSN broke numerous records with 15 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns. After that legendary showing, JSN was immediately in first round mock drafts until he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks 20th overall in the 2023 draft.
Penn State’s Drew Allar has the opportunity to see his draft stock increase this postseason in the first 12-team playoff in college football history. Some would say it already has, which I would not argue against, but let’s take a moment to break down what he has done so far and answer the question: Should Allar declare for the draft or stay for another year at Penn State.
The Argument
Let’s start with the obvious: Drew Allar has already announced via social media that he plans on returning the University Park for another season. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula subsequently entered the transfer portal and has since signed with the Missouri Tigers. Since Pribula has signed, he is locked in with head coach Eli Drinkwitz. There is no return to Penn State for Pribula like there could have been if he were still in the portal looking for a school. Everyone currently involved—Allar, Pribula, and the Penn State coaching staff—has taken action as if Allar is returning for his senior season.
But according to reports lately, there are NFL scouts and general managers who believe that he could still declare for the draft, and I think there are a few reasons for why this narrative is gaining traction.
Allar is the most physically gifted quarterback in the playoffs
Do any of the other quarterbacks posses the prototypical size and arm talent that Allar has? Standing at 6-foot-5 235 pounds, Allar is the most physically imposing quarterback in the 12-team field. He has also displayed some of the best arm talent out of all the quarterbacks. An argument could be made for Texas’s Quinn Ewers, who is inconsistent, or even Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, who was incredible against the Longhorns.
Because Allar stands out so much, and everyone is tuning into the playoffs, Allar may be getting extra love since the premier quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class did not make the playoffs.
The 2025 quarterback class leaves a lot to be desired
Those “premier” quarterbacks I mentioned earlier—Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Miami’s Cam Ward—would not have even sniffed first round considerations last season, when Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy and Bo Nix were all selected in Round 1.
The lack of an established top prospect at the position could allure Allar into throwing his name into the mix—if he believes he has done enough to be the top guy. Surely there is a part of him that believes he is better than those guys, right?
I know there are people out there who think so. I may think that myself.
The 2026 quarterback class could be a lot stronger, even without Allar
Yes, the 2025 quarterback class is relatively weak, but the 2026 class looks loaded. But then again, we have no clue who could declare early. There are a few players who seem destined for the draft due to their eligibility running out—Klubnik, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, and Louisville’s Miller Moss.
And there are underclassmen who could forgo their remaining year of college ball—Texas’s Arch Manning, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava, and Oregon’s Dante Moore. With all of those names potentially in the fold, and any other surprise risers, Allar could be overshadowed by other excellent prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
There are plenty of reasons why I think Allar could—or even should—declare for the draft. But there are also reasons why he should stay and develop for another year.
Allar may have raw talent, but needs more refinement
We have seen the size and arm strength on display this season, and have even seen a new aspect of his game when he ran the football, but Allar could benefit from developing more. His accuracy in the intermediate levels of the field could use some improvement, but has also suffered from nine drops from his receivers in that area of the field in 2024.
I do think Penn State adding more talent at receiver and allowing the current guys to develop will help Allar, even if he loses star tight end Tyler Warren to the NFL.
Despite the wins and attention, Allar hasn’t been on top of his game in the playoffs
Granted, the running game has been so dominant thanks to running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton but Allar did not throw a touchdown pass against SMU and completed just 52.0% of his throws. I think the stats do not tell the whole story, but when you watch the games you can tell that he is not quite there yet in terms of putting it all together.
He has shown flashes in each game but I want to see him put it all together and play a complete game against a top opponent. He will get that opportunity next week when he plays Notre Dame.
Allar could land at a better spot in the 2026 draft
This may be grasping at straws since there is so much uncertainty regarding the 2026 draft (come on, we are a year out). However, I think that if Allar were to declare for the 2025 draft, he would likely get drafted in the top five. There are not many attractive locations out of those teams. If he declares in 2026, I do not know if he would go top five.
He certainly could but as of now it is more uncertain than if he declared for the 2025 draft. That could be a good thing. Quarterbacks are more likely to land in a good situation and organization if they are drafted outside the top five, or even the top ten. I think Allar would greatly benefit from going to a well-run organization and the likelihood of that is greater if he does not forego his final year of eligibility.
NIL
It’s as plain and simple as the name suggests. The average “price” for starting quarterbacks at major programs is around $3 million at a minimum, and there have been recent reports that Texas’s Quinn Ewers has received offers around $6 million to enter the transfer portal.
Anywhere between $3-6 million should be enough to convince Allar—or any quarterback who isn’t a surefire top-two pick—to stay for another year. But I understand it’s deeper than that, there’s more to that decision than the number on a check. However, it certainly could be a strong factor in a player’s decision. It’s life-altering money.
My Verdict
Look, the reasons to go to the draft are pretty compelling, and I really do think that Allar could end up being a top-ten or even top-five draft pick if he declares. I could see him declaring if Penn State win a national championship. His draft stock and hype will be at an all-time high and he will have won a natty. It’s hard to top that.
However, anything short of winning the national championship will result in him returning for his senior season. That is what I believe will happen and it is what I believe should happen. He has so much to gain by staying for another year and could potentially make another playoff run. Quarterbacks developing more in college will benefit them as they enter the league. Don’t believe me? Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels are top Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates and were both five-year starters at two different schools.
Despite understandable reasons to declare early, I do think that Allar will—and should—stay for his senior season. Doing so will probably cement himself as a Penn State legend and sticking to his word will get the attention of scouts. Who would’ve thought a kid from Ohio would lead the Nittany Lions to the promised land. All Allar needs is another chance.