Tag: drew allar

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NFL (American Football)

Penn State Aims to Break Through as Allar and Veterans Lead 2025 Title Pursuit

Drew Allar
Drew Allar (NFL)

Penn State football has watched its Big Ten rivals, Michigan and Ohio State, win back-to-back national championships while they remained on the sidelines. The Nittany Lions came painfully close to a title opportunity last season, falling just three points short of a College Football Playoff berth after losing to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

Head coach James Franklin believes that the heartbreak will fuel his team’s hunger in 2025, emphasizing that returning players have experienced what it takes to compete at the highest level and will be even more determined.

The blueprint for success is clear, and Penn State is mirroring the strategies that led Michigan and Ohio State to recent championships. Both teams prioritized retaining key veterans, reinforcing their rosters through the transfer portal, and fostering a culture built around experienced upperclassmen.

Michigan used this approach to go undefeated in 2023, while Ohio State followed a similar path in 2024 with a mix of returning talent and key transfers. If Penn State can replicate this formula, it has a strong case as one of the most complete teams heading into the 2025 season.

Drew Allar and Key Returnees Lead Penn State’s Quest for a Championship

Penn State has already secured commitments from several key players to return for another year, setting the foundation for a title run. Quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and defensive leaders like Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, and Zakee Wheatley headline a strong returning core.

Drew Allar
Drew Allar (NFL)

These players have expressed their determination to finish what they started, believing they were on the cusp of greatness last season. Their experience and leadership will be crucial in the pursuit of a championship.

Penn State’s offense is expected to be driven by its dominant rushing attack, led by Singleton and Allen behind an experienced offensive line. The biggest question mark remains the passing game, particularly whether Allar can perform at an elite level in crucial matchups. Last season, he struggled against top defenses like Ohio State and Notre Dame, failing to throw a touchdown in either game. If Penn State is to win a title, Allar must take a step forward and prove he can deliver under pressure.

Revamping the Passing Game as Penn State Searches for Reliable Receiving Threats

A key challenge for Penn State in 2025 will be establishing dependable receiving targets. With star tight end Tyler Warren departing for the NFL and Trey Wallace and Omari Evans transferring out, the receiver group faces uncertainty.

Transfers Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross have potential, but it is unclear whether they can strengthen the passing attack. In recent years, championship teams have relied on elite receiving corps to support their quarterbacks—Penn State must assess whether its roster can provide the same level of production.

Defensively, Penn State has the tools to dominate, especially with the addition of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator, who helped Ohio State win a championship.

The team boasts strength at all three levels, complementing an offense that features a powerful run game and veteran leadership. However, coaching and in-game execution will be the ultimate test. If Franklin cannot guide this talented roster to a title, questions will arise about whether he ever will. The 2025 season presents a golden opportunity—now, Penn State must seize it.

Categories
NFL (American Football)

Drew Allar to Return for Senior Season at Penn State After CFP Semifinal Defeat in Atlanta

Drew Allar looks to pass in the 1st half

Penn State junior running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton announced on Monday that they will not enter the NFL draft and will return for the 2025 season.

“We still have goals we want to reach as a team, and I want to be alongside my teammates as we reach those goals,” Singleton shared in his announcement.

This is big news for the Nittany Lions, as both Allen and Singleton are two of the top running backs in college football.

Meanwhile, junior quarterback Drew Allar also plans to return next season for his senior year. He had previously stated he would keep an “open mind” after receiving feedback from the NFL, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic.

On the other hand, star tight end Tyler Warren announced that he will enter the NFL draft. Warren is considered the No. 14 overall player by Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department. In 2024, he had 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight receiving touchdowns.

Even with Warren leaving, Penn State will have plenty of talent coming back, especially with the return of the two talented running backs.

Drew Allar throws in the 1st half

“Going to work with coach Seider and the Lawnboyz every day is something I will cherish forever,” Allen wrote. “Penn State has been an extraordinary experience for me… it’s clear that we still have a lot more to accomplish.”

Both Allen and Singleton were part of one of the best rushing duos in college football this season. Allen rushed for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns on 220 carries, while Singleton rushed for 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns on 172 carries. Singleton also ranked fourth in the Big Ten with 6.4 yards per carry.

Together, they combined for 166 rushing yards in the 27-24 Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, with Singleton scoring three touchdowns.

Singleton’s return is particularly surprising because he was projected as the No. 50 player in the 2025 NFL Draft and the No. 5 running back, according to Bleacher Report.

Although quarterback Drew Allar had already committed to returning to Penn State before the Orange Bowl, some NFL general managers believed he might have reconsidered entering the draft if he had performed well in the game, per Brugler. However, Allar’s final game was a letdown, as he threw for just 135 yards with zero touchdowns, one interception, and one fumble, completing only 52 percent of his passes.

Despite this, the Nittany Lions will head into next season with a talented and experienced backfield, with Allen, Singleton, and Allar returning.

Categories
College Football

A pass interference call against Notre Dame sets up a Penn State touchdown in the Orange Bowl in Miami

Drew Allar throws in the 1st half

With 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Orange Bowl, Notre Dame’s Jack Kiser intercepted a pass from Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. Allar had thrown a fade route to Tyler Warren on the left side of the end zone. However, Notre Dame’s excitement was short-lived.

The officials flagged defensive pass interference on the play, which wiped out the interception and moved Penn State to Notre Dame’s 9-yard line. Just two plays later, the Nittany Lions scored a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead.

After Penn State kicked the extra point, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman had a heated conversation with three officials on the sideline. Despite his protests, the call stood.

Penn State had struggled in the passing game against Notre Dame. The Nittany Lions had not completed a pass to a receiver in the first half, relying instead on Tyler Warren.

Although Warren couldn’t catch the touchdown pass against the Irish, his contact with the defender led to the pass interference penalty. The impact of the controversial call on the game’s final result remains to be seen.

Jack Kiser in the 1st half

Penn State DE Abdul Carter wears Darth Vader eyeblack

Penn State defensive star Abdul Carter made a unique statement on Thursday by wearing eyeblack that read “Darth Vader.” The choice referenced a post Carter made earlier in the week on X, where he shared a clip from the Disney+ show Obi-Wan Kenobi. The clip featured Darth Vader healing in a “bacta-tank,” and Carter saw a connection to his own recovery from a shoulder injury he sustained in Penn State’s win over Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

Like Vader, Carter is a force to be reckoned with when fully healthy. The junior has 63 tackles and a team-high 11 sacks this season, ranking seventh in the country for sacks in the 2024 campaign.

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, Carter’s NIL representative, Drew Rosenhaus, praised his tough mentality.

“This guy is a warrior, he loves his coaches and his team, he would fight to win the championship no matter how much was at risk,” Rosenhaus said. “I was at the last game where he hurt his shoulder and the guy went out there and tried to play with one arm… He’s going to give it his all for Penn State, his teammates deserve that, that’s who he is, that’s how he was raised by his parents, and that’s what makes him great.”