Where did Penn State rank in ESPN’s quarterback rankings?
Each year ESPN ranks the future of the quarterback position for each team in college football, and, like most years, Penn State is ranked decently high in the grand scheme.
Last year it was ranked 11th with Sean Clifford at the helm backed up by Drew Allar and Christian Veilleux. With two of those three being elsewhere, it makes sense that Penn State may dip in the rankings and they did just that.
ESPN has the Nittany Lions ranked 15th in this year’s rankings. They discuss the drop coming from the departure of Clifford to the NFL and of Veilleux transferring to in-state rival Pittsburgh. The moves leave Drew Allar as the man to take over, and ESPN gives plenty of praise to him. They mention the expectations surrounding Allar are high; he is the highest-rated quarterback recruit they have had since Christian Hackenberg in 2013.
They also highlight that Allar will be in a familiar environment, stating the “team has schematic continuity with coordinator Mike Yurcich” and it is that continuity that should help Allar in his first year as a starter.
The biggest flaw outside of the departure of the veteran presence on the depth chart is the people behind Allar. ESPN adds “redshirt freshman Beau Pribula and true freshman Jaxon Smolik … there’s a lot riding on Allar here, but he has the skill set to take Penn State a long way.”
They aren’t wrong, if something goes sideways in State College with Allar, the Nittany Lions will be in dire straights at the quarterback position. Franklin couldn’t land any veterans within the transfer portal so for better or worse this is the best they can do at quarterback behind Allar.
