Penn State QB proves a compelling NFL prospect – elcajon newson Elcajon News only

When it comes to projecting a far-off NFL draft, keep in mind there’s no helium like the helium of a college quarterback who begins to sharpen his level tools against good teams.

Drew Allar might be one of those QBs.

Fans of NFL teams in the QB market should watch the improving Penn State junior next Saturday in college football’s expanded playoffs.

At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Allar has good size and arm strength by NFL standards. He can outrun some linemen and linebackers. He plows for yards on sneaks.

The 20-year-old Ohioan isn’t a polished prospect from the mold of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. Three other QBs landed on the Big Ten coaches’ all-conference teams announced Dec. 3.

Nor does Allar stand among the top three QB prospects listed by two prominent NFL draft analysts who consult with NFL scouts. ESPN’s Mel Kiper places him fourth. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler puts him fifth.

That could change.

Talented players can make big jumps.

Allar showed growth spurts in his most recent game, the Dec. 7 Big Ten championship. He made a few special throws, including a sidearm laser under duress for a key gain. He broke off a 22-yard run. Responding well to a pair of interceptions, he mustered improved poise in directing a comeback. The opponent was top-ranked Oregon, which held on for a 45-37 victory in the Indianapolis dome.

It’s hard to overstate the value of such a game to a QB’s education. Logging nearly 80 snaps, Allar gained loads of valuable feedback that only can come through high-stake competition.

Now comes college football’s playoff, expanded from four to 12 teams. It brings developmental opportunities that NFL teams appreciate.

Take next Saturday’s game between sixth-seeded Penn State and No. 12 SMU. It will be played outdoors, at State College, Pa., instead of at a warm-weather site or in a dome. Similar conditions prevail at many NFL playoff games.

Providing clues about durability, it will be Allar’s14th start this season (and 37th of his career). If Penn State and Allar were to win out, the QB will have played a 17-game season, matching a full NFL regular season.

The case for many QBs staying in school has been bolstered in recent years, via increased fifth-year eligibility and ability to transfer without sitting out a season. This year, benefiting from having started 55 and 61 college games, mature rookie QBs Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix have led the Commanders and Broncos into NFL playoff contention.

Among the NFL scouting executives who figure to be watching Allar’s every snap is a familiar one to San Diegans.

Former San Diego Chargers GM Tom Telesco’s Raiders stand to receive a top-five slot in the next draft.

Until joining the Raiders last offseason, Telesco was accustomed to working for an NFL team that employed a large, above-average franchise QB — whether it was the Colts’ Manning, the Panthers’ Kerry Collins (a Penn State alum who was named to two Pro Bowls) or the Chargers’ Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert.

Allar is large. As they attempt to figure out the Allar puzzle, NFL scouts wouldn’t mind Penn State playing up to four more games.