Latest news with #Allar
USA Today
3 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Previewing the 2025 season for Penn State QB Drew Allar with his player profile
Previewing the 2025 season for Penn State QB Drew Allar with his player profile Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player's background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season. Quarterback Drew Allar returns for his fourth and likely final season as a Nittany Lion, looking to avenge last season's heartbreaking loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals. With a revamped wide receiver corps via a trio of transfers, Allar has arguably the best cast of pass-catchers he's had since arriving on campus. Here's a preview of Penn State's gunslinger headed into the 2025 season. Preseason Player Profile Hometown: Medina, Ohio Height: 6-5 Weight: 236 lb Class in 2025: Senior Recruiting Rankings Class of 2022: Consensus 5-star recruit, No. 3 player, No. 1 quarterback and No. 1 recruit from Ohio per 247Sports Allar committed to Penn State as a rising 4-star recruit. The local Ohio State made a late push for Allar after his commitment, but the quarterback never wavered and became Penn State's highest ranked quarterback commitment since Christian Hackenberg in 2013. Career Stats Games Completions Attempts Yards Touchdowns 2022 10 35 60 344 4 2023 13 233 389 2,631 25 2024 16 262 394 3,327 24 Depth Chart Overview It was clear when Allar stepped on campus it wouldn't take long for him to step into the spotlight. After sitting behind sixth-year Sean Clifford for a year, Allar took the reigns and has been the starter for two seasons. Barring injury, he'll retain the starting role in 2025.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Draft: Texas QB Arch Manning among 10 players to know ahead of 2026 class
Yes, the 2025 NFL Draft just ended. But it's not too early to look ahead to the 2026 draft. Especially given the potential depth at quarterback. Just two QBs were selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft as No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward was the only QB taken in the top 20 before the Giants traded up to get Jaxson Dart at No. 25. Tyler Shough was the only QB taken in the second round before two quarterbacks were selected in the third round. The possible 2026 QB class could be more like the 2024 NFL Draft class. And it's headlined by a QB that even the most casual football fans will recognize. Here are 10 players to watch for the 2026 draft listed in alphabetical order. The Nittany Lions made the College Football Playoff last season as Allar completed two-thirds of his passes and increased his yards per attempt from 6.8 to 8.4 in 2024. There are no doubts about his physical tools but the best thing for his draft stock would be a stellar game against a top opponent. In Penn State's three CFP games a year ago, Allar threw just one interception but was only 38-of-70 for 433 yards and three touchdowns as Penn State's weakness at receiver was evident. The former Georgia QB went from being a possible top-10 pick entering the 2024 season to transferring to Miami after suffering an elbow injury in the SEC title game. Beck shined in his first season as a starter in 2023 but had a rocky 2024 campaign before the injury. As he was asked to do more within Georgia's offense, his completion percentage dipped by nearly eight points and he averaged 1.7 yards fewer per pass attempt while his interceptions doubled from six to 12. Can Beck have a season like Cam Ward did in 2024? One of the fastest players in college football should give Georgia's receiving group a needed boost. The former USC wide receiver had 47 catches for 503 yards and a TD in 2024 and shined as a kick returner in 2023, averaging nearly 21 yards per punt return. He should immediately be an all-purpose weapon for Georgia and add a level of playmaking that the Bulldogs desperately lacked in 2024. The former Alabama safety has been a star ever since he played his first college football game. Downs had 107 tackles as a freshman and started right away for Nick Saban at Alabama as he had an interception in his final game with the Crimson Tide. After Saban's retirement, Downs transferred to Ohio State, where he was one of the team's best players on defense, with 82 tackles and eight tackles for loss. He's the favorite to be the first defensive back off the board in 2026. Hill enters the 2025 season as Michigan's top corner following a breakout 2024 campaign. He had 35 tackles, an interception and eight passes defensed a season ago as Michigan played without star corner Will Johnson for much of the season. All eyes will be on Austin for Manning's first season as a starter after he was Quinn Ewers' backup in 2024. He showed why he was a five-star recruit in relief of Ewers a season ago and is much more of a dual-threat quarterback than his uncles Peyton and Eli were. Manning rushed for four TDs in limited duty in 2024 and also saw the field in short-yardage situations because of his running ability. Manning will be college football's most-watched player in 2025 and he's the first player who comes to mind when a team like the Cleveland Browns stockpiles picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and didn't take a quarterback in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft. Yes, he could declare for the draft after just one season as a starter. But if Manning shines in 2025, that lack of game film won't be much of a knock. Mauigoa has been a mainstay at right tackle for the Hurricanes for the past two seasons and will vie with Alabama's Kadyn Proctor to be the first tackle taken in the draft. He was the No. 2 tackle recruit in the class of 2023. The only player ranked ahead of him? Proctor. Nussmeier completed 64% of his passes in 2024 and threw 29 TDs with 12 interceptions. He chose to come back to school for another season in 2025 and could play himself into the first round with another strong season. His father Doug, a longtime college football assistant, is now the Saints' offensive coordinator, though the Saints took Tyler Shough in the second round on Friday night. Parker is the latest Clemson defensive line star and will draw consistent double-teams in 2025. He had 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2024. Four of those sacks came against Pitt as the Tigers snuck out a victory on the road, and he starred in Clemson's ACC title game win over SMU with eight tackles and four tackles for loss. The former five-star recruit started as a freshman for the Crimson Tide and nearly transferred to Iowa ahead of the 2024 season before returning to Tuscaloosa. He was a second-team all-SEC selection despite missing the first two games of the season, and at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, he has a frame that NFL scouts love.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gorney's predictions: Jackson Cantwell, Drew Allar, Clemson winning it all
Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney has three predictions on Drew Allar's draft status, Clemson's upbeat expectations and five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell. MORE GORNEY: Recruiting rumor mill CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker 1. DREW ALLAR WILL BE FIRST QB DRAFTED AP Advertisement Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice released his top 25 Big Board for the 2026 NFL Draft and he did not have Penn State quarterback Drew Allar included. Four quarterbacks made the list in Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson's Cade Klubnik. No Arch Manning. But also no Allar and that seems like a missed opportunity. Allar was a four-star prospect for Rivals but should have been higher because he had such a great arm coming out of high school and has become one of the best college quarterbacks even without a huge supporting cast. Remember, in Penn State's 23-20 loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal, no Nittany Lions receiver had a catch. Allar, who did throw a bad interception to give the Irish the win, was not working with Ohio State's receiving corps. Maybe not even Ohio's. But he's made it work. Allar completed more than 66 percent of his passes last season for more than 3,300 yards and 24 touchdowns. He led Penn State to the Final Four of College Football. His receiving corps mainly through the portal will be much better this year and Penn State could be the No. 1 team in preseason polls. Advertisement Allar is trending up and that should only continue through the pre-draft process. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH PENN STATE FANS AT 2. CLEMSON WILL WIN THE NATTY USA TODAY Over the last decade, the only teams to win multiple national championships are Alabama, Georgia and Clemson. The Tigers haven't won one since 2018 and some argue that the program has taken a step back. Let's see if that talk sustains after 2025. Former five-stars Cade Klubnik and defensive tackle Peter Woods look like first-round locks for the NFL Draft. TJ Parker, who was a fringe five-star prospect, could end up going in the first as well, especially if he continues to play so well. Advertisement The Tigers have an elite quarterback, super talented receivers, a solid offensive line and then the front seven might be the best in the country. Clemson is just absolutely loaded on the defensive line and at linebacker. Some key transfer additions on defense including Purdue's Will Heldt and Alabama's Jeremiah Alexander, another former five-star who hasn't lived up to expectations yet, could have dominant seasons as well. Another national championship is within striking distance and the Tigers should be the favorite. If that happens, Clemson would be the only team with three in the last decade. Clemson falling off? The Tigers never left. MORE CLEMSON: Commitment list for 2026 class SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT 3. CANTWELL IS HEADED TO THE DAWGS On Thursday, there was a coordinated effort by former Miami stars including Bryant McKinnie to contact five-star Jackson Cantwell on social media and tell him about playing for the Hurricanes. Cantwell, in pure Midwest form, responded to each gracefully and thanked them for hitting him up. Advertisement The Nixa, Mo., standout will make his announcement on Tuesday. Cantwell, ranked atop the 2026 Rivals250, is also coming off an excellent visit back to Oregon as the Ducks try to get some recruiting momentum after missing out on five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, four-star receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and others. But in the closing days, despite the best efforts of others, I still have Cantwell headed to Georgia. From early in his recruitment, Cantwell and his coach have talked about them choosing the right place for his NFL development. He sees what Georgia has done, what the Bulldogs produce every year in the NFL Draft and the high expectations placed on players to win at the highest level in Athens. That doesn't scare him off. It draws him in. And those are just some of the reasons why Georgia lands the No. 1 player. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH GEORGIA FANS AT
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2026 NFL Draft betting, odds, lines: Texas QB Arch Manning opens as favorite to go No. 1 overall
The 2025 NFL Draft is over, but it's never too early to look ahead to next year. Sports books have already put out odds on which player will be selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is the favorite at +200 odds, slightly ahead of Penn State QB Drew Allar (+225). LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier (+450) is the only other player with single-digit odds. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik has the next-best odds at 18-1, followed by three players at 25-1: Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk, Clemson DE T.J. Parker and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Manning, the son of Cooper and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, played sparingly last season in relief of Quinn Ewers, throwing for 939 yards and nine TDs. A dynamic player with running ability behind center, Manning, who will be a redshirt sophomore this upcoming season, is also the 6-1 Heisman favorite at BetMGM, followed by Nussmeier at +850. Allar had an up-and-down season in 2024 in his second year as the Penn State starting QB, throwing for 24 TDs but also tossing eight INTs. Allar led Penn State to an 11-1 regular-season record and College Football Playoff berth. The Nittany Lions made it to the CFP semifinals before losing 27-24 to Notre Dame. A lot can — and will — change between now and next year's draft. At this time last year, former Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders was the favorite to go No. 1 overall at +300, followed by Cam Ward (+450) and Travis Hunter (+750). Ward went No. 1, Hunter No. 2 and Sanders fell all the way to the fifth round. A quarterback has been selected No. 1 overall in seven of the past eight drafts (in 2022, Jacksonville took DE Travon Walker with the first pick).
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Draft: Texas QB Arch Manning among 10 players to know ahead of 2026 class
Yes, the 2025 NFL Draft just ended. But it's not too early to look ahead to the 2026 draft. Especially given the potential depth at quarterback. Just two QBs were selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft as No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward was the only QB taken in the top 20 before the Giants traded up to get Jaxson Dart at No. 25. Tyler Shough was the only QB taken in the second round before two quarterbacks were selected in the third round. The possible 2026 QB class could be more like the 2024 NFL Draft class. And it's headlined by a QB that even the most casual football fans will recognize. Here are 10 players to watch for the 2026 draft listed in alphabetical order. Penn State QB Drew Allar The Nittany Lions made the College Football Playoff last season as Allar completed two-thirds of his passes and increased his yards per attempt from 6.8 to 8.4 in 2024. There are no doubts about his physical tools but the best thing for his draft stock would be a stellar game against a top opponent. In Penn State's three CFP games a year ago, Allar threw just one interception but was only 38-of-70 for 433 yards and three touchdowns as Penn State's weakness at receiver was evident. Miami QB Carson Beck The former Georgia QB went from being a possible top-10 pick entering the 2024 season to transferring to Miami after suffering an elbow injury in the SEC title game. Beck shined in his first season as a starter in 2023 but had a rocky 2024 campaign before the injury. As he was asked to do more within Georgia's offense, his completion percentage dipped by nearly eight points and he averaged 1.7 yards fewer per pass attempt while his interceptions doubled from six to 12. Can Beck have a season like Cam Ward did in 2024? Georgia WR Zachariah Branch One of the fastest players in college football should give Georgia's receiving group a needed boost. The former USC wide receiver had 47 catches for 503 yards and a TD in 2024 and shined as a kick returner in 2023, averaging nearly 21 yards per punt return. He should immediately be an all-purpose weapon for Georgia and add a level of playmaking that the Bulldogs desperately lacked in 2024. This embedded content is not available in your region. Ohio State DB Caleb Downs The former Alabama safety has been a star ever since he played his first college football game. Downs had 107 tackles as a freshman and started right away for Nick Saban at Alabama as he had an interception in his final game with the Crimson Tide. After Saban's retirement, Downs transferred to Ohio State, where he was one of the team's best players on defense, with 82 tackles and eight tackles for loss. He's the favorite to be the first defensive back off the board in 2026. Michigan DB Jyaire Hill Hill enters the 2025 season as Michigan's top corner following a breakout 2024 campaign. He had 35 tackles, an interception and eight passes defensed a season ago as Michigan played without star corner Will Johnson for much of the season. Texas QB Arch Manning All eyes will be on Austin for Manning's first season as a starter after he was Quinn Ewers' backup in 2024. He showed why he was a five-star recruit in relief of Ewers a season ago and is much more of a dual-threat quarterback than his uncles Peyton and Eli were. Manning rushed for four TDs in limited duty in 2024 and also saw the field in short-yardage situations because of his running ability. Arch Manning is the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Manning will be college football's most-watched player in 2025 and he's the first player who comes to mind when a team like the Cleveland Browns stockpiles picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and didn't take a quarterback in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft. Yes, he could declare for the draft after just one season as a starter. But if Manning shines in 2025, that lack of game film won't be much of a knock. Miami OT Frances Mauigoa Mauigoa has been a mainstay at right tackle for the Hurricanes for the past two seasons and will vie with Alabama's Kadyn Proctor to be the first tackle taken in the draft. He was the No. 2 tackle recruit in the class of 2023. The only player ranked ahead of him? Proctor. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier Nussmeier completed 64% of his passes in 2024 and threw 29 TDs with 12 interceptions. He chose to come back to school for another season in 2025 and could play himself into the first round with another strong season. His father Doug, a longtime college football assistant, is now the Saints' offensive coordinator, though the Saints took Tyler Shough in the second round on Friday night. Clemson DE T.J. Parker Parker is the latest Clemson defensive line star and will draw consistent double-teams in 2025. He had 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2024. Four of those sacks came against Pitt as the Tigers snuck out a victory on the road, and he starred in Clemson's ACC title game win over SMU with eight tackles and four tackles for loss. Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor The former five-star recruit started as a freshman for the Crimson Tide and nearly transferred to Iowa ahead of the 2024 season before returning to Tuscaloosa. He was a second-team all-SEC selection despite missing the first two games of the season, and at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, he has a frame that NFL scouts love.
