What other Big Ten football players had to say about Penn State and QB Drew Allar
Penn State’s increased notoriety means increased opinions about the program and the players on the roster. This is not a group that will fly under the radar this season, with the Nittany Lions proving to be one of the most prevalent points of conversation at Big Ten media days in Las Vegas.
There is consternation about head coach James Franklin’s ability to win big games and if and the program will be able to live up to the lofty expectations that have them as the projected conference champion and a potential preseason No. 1 team in the country. Franklin and his players spoke about those expectations plenty, but what does the rest of the conference think of the Nittany Lions?
We asked several players from around the Big Ten for their opinions on some of Penn State’s most prominent players, playing in Beaver Stadium and more.
Few were as blunt as recent transfer and Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone. Stone was on the sideline as SMU’s backup quarterback for the first round College Football Playoff game in Beaver Stadium in December — a game Penn State won 38-10. What did Stone think of what he saw?
“They kicked our ass last year,” Stone said at Big Ten media days. “But getting to play at Penn State was awesome. The environment was incredible, the fan base was incredible. Speaking on the team specifically, they played very complementary football. The defense and the offense played very well off each other. ... Drew [Allar] had a great game against us and I’m sure he’ll have a great year this year.”
He’s not the only player in the conference with a high opinion of the environment and the team.
Here’s what other players said about the Nittany Lions.
Indiana LB Aiden Fisher
On playing in Beaver Stadium this season:
“It’s closer to home (in Virginia) for me so it’ll be great to have my family there. Obviously a really good quarterback, two really good running backs, a solid defense. So it’s definitely gonna be a tough game, a gritty one. But, honestly, those are the type of games that we’re looking forward to the most. For me personally, I can’t wait to go back and play there. I remember like visits and camps there when I was younger. So it’s gonna be a lot of fun and a really good challenge. I’m excited for it.”
On visiting Penn State:
“I had a hometown friend who his brother was (former Penn State defensive end) Yetur Gross-Matos, so we used to just go up there and kind of stay with him, kind of just see campus. The visits were always cool. It’s a really good atmosphere, great football program and, really [strong] tradition. So it was always really good.”
On Drew Allar:
“He plays with a lot of poise. He’s a really good player. Even just watching the playoff games and some film study I’ve done on my own, he’s a good player. He has a lot of arm talent. I think mentally, if you watch the course of last season, he just improved each game. But I think we do a lot of things, I think can mentally challenge you a lot. So it’ll be interesting to see how he handles it, and how we can go about it.”
Indiana DL Mikail Kamara
On playing in Beaver Stadium:
“It’s a huge stadium. It’s close to home, hours from my house (in Virginia), and I’ve been to a few games, two or three games, and it’s been big moments. So to just go somewhere where I’ve always dreamt to play in, it’s very special.”
On seeing Penn State play as a recruit:
“The one that I remember specifically is when we went down and [they] played Maryland. I was actually a recruit at the time, so I went through like the whole recruiting process or whatever. So just to see the atmosphere, just to see it was so packed, like the stadium looked crazy, to see all the graphics, to hear all the noises, it was like, this is what football is supposed to be. So I got that circled on my calendar because I want to go out there and play in an environment that tough and hopefully come out with the [win].”
On Drew Allar:
“From what I’ve heard, he’s definitely a top quarterback, and he’s a mobile quarterback. He can sling the ball. He’s really smart, he’s very efficient. For me as a quarterback hunter, that’s definitely the type of guy that I want to go up against. ... I always want to go up against the best. So if I’m haunting him in the backfield, that means I’m doing something right. I love to go against the best.”
Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt
On Penn State CB A.J. Harris:
“I love those battles. I’m excited to go against him. He’s a great corner and he looks good on film. So I’m excited.”
On playing in Beaver Stadium:
“It’s going to be a great environment. It’s a great team, a College Football Playoff team. They have a great defense, great guys coming back. So I’m excited to be able to compete against that secondary, against that whole defense. They got some good guys over there.”
Minnesota S Koi Perich
On facing Drew Allar in 2024:
“One of my first impressions was his arm talent. He’s got amazing arm talent. He shows off the deep ball and his deep accuracy. And he’s a big quarterback, sees over the line. And ultimately, I think he won the game for them this past season just scrambling and just making plays. Amazing player. Looking forward to what his career is.”
Northwestern DE Anto Saka
On playing in Beaver Stadium this season:
“One of the biggest stadiums in the country and they they pack it out. So obviously that’s a game that I look forward to. I know a decent amount of people on that squad, as well, being close to home. So it’s definitely a game that I got circled on my calendar and I will enjoy it.”
On being close with current Penn State players and handling a game week against them:
“We check in with each other every now and again. As it gets closer we might say something, we might not. It really depends on the mood. For the most part, we’re not really too much in contact when that week comes around.”
Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
On Penn State’s offense:
“They’ve got a lot of experience on offense. Drew Allar is a third-year starter on offense. He’s been starting for a while, lot of experience. Two running backs, very experienced, very talented. I know they lost [Tyler Warren] but they always have good tight ends. The offensive line is experienced as well, (they) brought in some receivers. When you look at a good football team, a team competing for a championship, they usually have an experienced quarterback. I think that’s the biggest thing that stands out to me — he’s experienced, he’s talented, he knows how to run an offense. I’m sure all the guys over there have all the confidence in him. It’s going to be a tough matchup.”
On Drew Allar’s physical talent:
“He has the ideal frame for a quarterback. ... He’s a big guy, he can take a hit. He’s tough. He’s not afraid to pull the (ball) down and run. The arm talent is there, he can throw the ball as far as he needs to. He reads the field pretty well. It’s going to be an interesting matchup. Can’t wait for it.”
Ohio State S Caleb Downs
On the impact of Penn State DC Jim Knowles, who left Ohio State to join the Nittany Lions:
“He allowed me to further my knowledge of the game. I feel like the more people that you’re around in this game, the more you have the chance to learn. I feel like he furthered my education. He was just a great person to learn how he thought of the game and how he prepared for the game and just figured it out.”
On Knowles day-to-day:
“Very focused. Very intentional. Hard-nosed, for sure. He wanted it how he wanted it. I appreciate that because you gotta have some opinion on how you want things to be done. I appreciate him for that. He helped our team out.”
Oregon DL Matayo Uiagalelei
On preparing for Drew Allar ahead of the 2024 Big Ten title game:
“A big, athletic-enough type quarterback. Can throw the ball. I think he’s bigger in person, or he might be bigger in pads, I don’t know. But shoot, I know there’s one play, this was toward the end of the game, he threw a touchdown. But I literally won on the edge, and I’m like, trying to, man, I’m grabbing his jersey, I’m pulling like I’m about to wrap him up. I’m thinking, I’m about to sack him. And I look up and he throws the ball when he’s in my arms and he throws the touchdown. He’s a pretty good player.”
Wisconsin CB Ricardo Hallman
On facing Drew Allar in 2024:
“He’s a great player. All the hype is definitely warranted, I thought he did a really good job. I think one thing he did a really good job is controlling the tempo of the game. He commands a lot of attention. He’s a great leader, as you can see. They have a lot of respect for him on that side of the ball, and just in the Penn State culture and Penn State fan base. So I think he’s a great player. He did a really good job. He’s mobile. I think he’s more mobile than people give him credit for. And he can throw at all levels of the defense, really. Intermediate, short, long. I thought he did a good job. He’s a good player”
