Penn State QB Drew Allar comfortable in new offensive scheme

Drew Allar is in the midst of a crucial offseason ahead of a potentially career-defining season. Penn State’s quarterback hopes to lead the Nittany Lions to a College Football Playoff berth and Big Ten title charge in 2024. The groundwork for that push is being laid now, in spring camp.

Allar spent 15 minutes on Wednesday catching up with reporters over Zoom. He discussed everything from new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to wide receiver Julian Fleming to early enrollee quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer. He also spent time explaining where he’s at, mentally and physically, with spring camp set to wrap up at next week’s Blue-White game.

Here are the highlights from Allar’s session with the media.

On the installation of Kotelnicki’s offensive scheme …

“I feel really comfortable right now. The biggest thing has been we’re getting to the same plays that we’ve been doing all spring, but through different formations, shifts and motions, things of that nature. Everybody’s learning the concepts and not just one part of the concept. You’re learning the full concept. So you’re gonna get to the point, hopefully toward the end of spring and moving into fall camp, that all the receivers are going to be plug-and-play at all the positions, not just the H or the X. They can play H, X, Z and even Y if we need to, based on personnel packages. But I feel like we’re doing a really good job on the offensive end right now.

“… Coach K is really big with distortion and creating a lot of space for us on the offensive end, getting us into open space, one-on-one opportunities to show off our abilities as ball-carriers and pass-catchers. I think he does a great job of presenting us opportunities to make plays in space and getting us into those opportunities through our practices.”

On his impressions of Fleming, who transferred in from Ohio State in January …

“Me and Julian have a really good relationship. We have lockers right across from each other, so we’re always in there together before practices. Even on our days off, we’re always in there. I mean, Julian’s a great receiver. I think he brings a certain toughness and mentality to that receiver room where he’s gonna go out and be consistent and do his job. He’s going to do whatever the coaches ask him to, no matter if it’s involving him in the passing game or he’s blocking on the perimeter for screens or for the running backs.

“Julian is a pro-like guy. He has a very good mentality to him with his work ethic and habits away from the field. He’s always putting in extra work. I always see him bringing along other receivers with him to get extra work on the JUGS. He’s always asking me after practice to get some reps that he will want to have back from practice, repping those routes on air, doing the same look that he got throughout practice that maybe he could have done better with. From that aspect, he’s been really good, and I love being around him.”

On WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, whose role diminished down the stretch in 2023 …

“What Dre has done a really good job of is being consistent throughout the spring. He’s making the routine plays routine, and obviously he has a lot of talent with him. He makes some pretty spectacular plays. He’s one of the better guys we have at angle tackle drills, making guys miss in one-on-ones and miss in space. I think the more ways we can get the ball to him on the perimeter and let him showcase those skills, the better for the offense. He’ll pick up yardage, he’ll get his touches, he’ll make things happen out of nothing. He’s been very consistent this spring, His leadership has definitely stepped up, being more of a vocal and lead-by-example guy for the younger receivers in that room.”

On Grunkemeyer, who could be the team’s No. 3 QB with Jaxon Smolik out injured …

“He’s done a lot of good things. He’s learning on the fly right now. He’s doing a really good job of handling everything and of being prepared for everything and asking really good questions throughout our quarterback meetings. Obviously, he’s going through that transition. He should be in high school still but early enrolled. But he’s doing a good job for being a mid-year enrollee at quarterback. He’s delivering the ball on time, and he’s learning from the reps that he maybe made a mistake. He knows now the difference between college defenses and high school defenses. That natural progression from practice No. 1 to practice No. 9 has been really cool to see. He definitely has a bright future ahead of him.”

On his own development and a change in perspective from last year …

“For me personally, I’ve talked to (quasi-quarterbacks coach) Danny (O’Brien) about this going into the spring. I feel like I play my best when I’m loose, free and confident and just having fun out there. I think I’ve done a lot better job with that. I’ve kind of let the more competitive side of me come out this spring. I’m talking to the offense being more of a vocal leader. I’m also talking to the defense. That’s when I play my best is when I’m having a lot of fun and not really thinking, kind of just going out there and playing and being loose.”