Quarterback Drew Allar’s availability for No. 3 Penn State’s game against No. 4 Ohio State this Saturday remains up in the air.
James Franklin met with reporters Monday at his weekly news conference and suggested Allar, who exited Penn State’s win at Wisconsin at halftime with an apparent knee injury and returned to the sideline for the rest of the game, will be a game-time decision.
“(Allar’s) played enough football for us that the timeline will go all the way up to the game,” Franklin said. “No matter where we’re at on Tuesday we’re going to have to get both (Allar and backup Beau Pribula) reps on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“The reality is we’re going to have to have both guys ready, and you could even make the argument all three guys ready, which is challenging to do in a game week is to try to get all those guys ready.”
Allar briefly had a brace on his left knee after sustaining a sack late in the first half at Wisconsin. He then took the brace off and remained standing on the sideline for the rest of the game. Franklin said Saturday night the staff thought Allar was going to play the second half but after he warmed up after halftime they didn’t feel Allar was mobile enough.
Pribula entered in place of Allar and played the entire second half. Pribula was masterful leading the Penn State offense. He completed 11-of-13 passes for 98 yards with a touchdown. Pribula led two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter as Penn State pulled away from the Badgers.
Having an experienced backup quarterback puts the Nittany Lions in an interesting position as Ohio State heads to town. Pribula has regularly been used this season as a change-of-pace player whose mobility and speed can create challenges for defenses. Saturday’s performance was the best Pribula has ever looked during his Penn State tenure. He fit the football into tight windows and Franklin credited the entire offensive staff for calling the game in the second half in a way that maximized Pribula’s strengths.
Penn State has two very different quarterbacks and while Allar, an Ohio native who grew up a fan of the Buckeyes, was the higher-rated recruit of the two, Pribula, a three-star prospect per 247Sports, was part of Penn State’s same 2022 recruiting class. How Ohio State approaches this week and likely will need to prep for two different styles of quarterbacks add to the intrigue.
This season, Allar’s second as Penn State’s starter, he’s completed 117 of 164 pass attempts (71.3 percent) for 1,640 yards. He’s thrown 12 touchdowns to four interceptions. Allar’s improved mobility has been one of the most noticeable changes in his game. He’s been able to keep plays alive because of his legs which has helped Andy Kotelnicki’s offense thrive.
Franklin will next meet with the media on Wednesday evening following practice.
(Photo: Mark Hoffman / USA Today via Imagn Images)
