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James Franklin praises Drew Allar’s progress, preparation for high-profile opponents
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Much has been written, said and yelled about James Franklin and Penn State’s tragic history in high-profile games, and this weekend’s home matchup with No. 6 Oregon provides another opportunity for the Nittany Lions to buck that trend.
In order to do so, Franklin & Co. will likely need to witness a stellar night from quarterback Drew Allar, who is looking to truly put the memories of last season’s Orange Bowl interception to rest.
Ahead of the date with the Ducks, Franklin spoke on Allar’s development in how he handles games like this one and delved into why there isn’t a surefire way to prepare for life as QB1 in Happy Valley.
“You can prepare all you want to be the starting quarterback at Penn State, but until you’re actually back there and dealing with everything that comes with it, it’s hard to totally prepare for it,” Franklin explained. “It’s like being a head coach. You can prepare and create all the manuals you want, but until you’re actually sitting in that chair, it’s different.”
Franklin also spoke about how Allar recently shared a story with the team that revolved around his usage of social media as a freshman. The presumed first-round NFL Draft pick apparently said that he is now off all media platforms following that time, likely due to him facing frequent criticism.
“It’s a distraction, and it’s not needed,” Franklin said, adding that the team as a whole is similarly dialed in. “They understand the opportunity we’ve had this week and recognize what this is, but it’s been business as usual from our guys.”
Here’s Franklin’s full comments on Allar ahead of Saturday night. Kickoff for Ducks-Nittany Lions is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC:
Current sports editor with the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Mississippi. 2024 graduate from Mizzou and college athletics enthusiast.