Drew Allar is set to return to Happy Valley for the 2025 season.
The talented Penn State quarterback has informed his coaching staff of his decision to bypass early entry into the 2025 NFL Draft, opting instead to complete his senior season, as reported by ESPN on Monday. This announcement follows backup quarterback Beau Pribula’s recent declaration of his entry into the transfer portal.
In a draft class perceived as less robust for quarterback prospects, Allar emerged as a player who could significantly elevate his draft stock during the College Football Playoff. His performance in his second season as a starter was impressive, with a completion rate of 69.1%, amassing 2,894 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, alongside 279 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang highlighted Allar’s noteworthy progress as a pocket passer, particularly after his standout four-touchdown game (three passing, one rushing) against Oregon in the Big Ten title match. Rang praised Allar’s physical attributes—standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 238 pounds—along with his powerful arm and ability to limit turnovers (recording only nine interceptions in 733 career passing attempts), qualities that will undoubtedly attract the attention of NFL scouts.
However, Penn State must first navigate the challenges of the College Football Playoff before Allar and the team can fully prepare for the 2025 season. The Nittany Lions secured the No. 6 seed and are set to face 11th-seeded SMU on Saturday. A victory in this matchup would advance them to the Fiesta Bowl, where they would play against third-seeded Boise State on New Year’s Eve.
Should Penn State make a deep playoff run, this could potentially influence Allar’s decision regarding the draft. He has until January 24 to finalize his choice, which is the deadline for players participating in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Other players not in the playoff have until January 15 to declare.
If Allar were to reconsider his position, Penn State has a promising option in Ethan Grunkemeyer. The freshman quarterback, a four-star recruit from the Class of 2024, was ranked as the 103rd-best prospect by 247 Sports. Grunkemeyer is expected to step in as the backup quarterback for Penn State’s playoff journey, filling the role left by Pribula.
