Penn State quarterback Drew Allar underwent profitable surgical procedure on Wednesday to handle his damaged left ankle, in line with ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Allar sustained the damage — the extent of which had not been divulged — final Saturday within the Nittany Lions’ 22-21 loss to Northwestern, and former coach James Franklin introduced on the time that the fourth-year quarterback would miss the remainder of the season.
Allar is reportedly on monitor to make a full restoration, and he may very well be cleared to return to exercises within the coming months.
The damage occurred within the closing minutes of Penn State’s third straight loss, one which led this system to fireplace Franklin within the highest-profile and most shocking teaching change of the 2025 school soccer season. Allar tucked the ball for a scramble with simply over three minutes left within the fourth quarter, and he fell awkwardly upon contact with two Northwestern defenders. He spent a number of minutes on the turf earlier than trainers assisted him to the sideline and ultimately carted him into the locker room.
The failure to develop QB Drew Allar sealed James Franklin’s destiny at Penn State
Brian Dohn
Allar, a three-year starter who led Penn State to the School Soccer Playoff semifinals final season, completed the 12 months as a 64.8% passer with 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He bumped into hassle within the closing weeks of his season with a string of underwhelming performances in losses to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern. The Nittany Lions, in flip, fell from nationwide title competition to afterthoughts within the Massive Ten with losses to a pair of convention bottom-dwellers.
What are Drew Allar’s subsequent steps?
On condition that 2025 is Allar’s closing 12 months of eligibility, the ankle damage virtually definitely introduced an unlucky finish to his school profession. He may submit a medical hardship waiver utility to hunt a fifth 12 months of eligibility, however on condition that he participated in additional than 30% of Penn State’s regular-season video games, it’s unlikely the waiver could be authorized. Until the NCAA adjustments its eligibility guidelines so as to add a fifth 12 months, Allar will now flip his consideration towards the NFL Draft.
Although Allar thought-about leaving for the NFL after final season, this was imagined to be a 12 months for Allar to each lead Penn State to a nationwide title and additional enhance his professional prospects. His inventory took a tumble throughout his profession as Penn State’s starter as he struggled to ship on the lofty expectations positioned on him as a former five-star recruit. Allar displayed ample promise in his debut season within the position when he led the Massive Ten with 25 touchdowns and threw simply two interceptions, however he failed to copy these numbers within the years since.
NFL groups shall be tasked with weighing Allar’s still-tantalizing bodily instruments together with his up-and-down manufacturing. They need to additionally decide how a lot of his ceiling was capped by Penn State’s lackluster run of large receivers — or to what extent these receivers underwhelmed due to Allar.
The Nittany Lions, in the meantime, will flip to redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkenmeyer as they proceed their season on the street towards Iowa on Saturday underneath interim coach Terry Smith.
