Former Penn State Star QB Drew Allar Lands Strong NFL Endorsement

Former Penn State Nittany Lions star quarterback Drew Allar has officially kicked off his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Thursday night, the young signal caller played in his first preseason game. Allar found major success in his first outing with the black and gold. Throughout the course of the game, he completed 10 of his 13 pass attempts for 153 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also scored a touchdown on the ground. Due to overall team struggles and a broken left ankle, Allar's 2025 college season ended in disappointment. His draft value was hurt in the process, leading to the Penn State star falling to the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft where he was selected at No. 76 overall. Even though Allar was a third-round pick, the Steelers felt that they were getting a first-round talent. Following the preseason opener, Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy gave Allar a strong endorsement. His words suggested that the young quarterback has a very good chances to make the final 53-man roster and potentially be Aaron Rodgers' future replacement. "When we drafted Drew we felt like we were getting a first round pick," McCarthy said. "All of that is holding true." Right now, Allar is battling with two other quarterbacks for the backup job behind Rodgers. Both Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are also involved in the competition. During his college career, Allar ended up playing four years with the Nittany Lions. At times, he looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. When all was said and done, the 22-year-old quarterback ended up completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 7,402 yards, 61 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also racked up 736 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on the ground. Moving into the future, Penn State fans are sure to continue rooting Allar on. Things may not have gone according to plan for the quarterback with the Nittany Lions, but he's still a fan favorite and will continue to be one for years to come. Hopefully, Allar's success will continue throughout the remainder of the NFL preseason schedule. He will make his second appearance for the Steelers on August 21 when the team takes on the New York Jets. For now, everything is pointing up for Allar. McCarthy is clearly loving what he's seeing from the rookie quarterback and Nittany Lions fans are all about it.