As Penn State continued to advance through the College Football Playoff, the NFL Draft buzz for Drew Allar continued to build.
Heck, it even led some — or at least this author — to project that the Nittany Lions signal-caller would be selected as high as second overall this April, despite Allar previously announced he’d be returning to Happy Valley for his senior season.
But in what marked the biggest game of his college career to date, the former 5-star prospect fell on his face. With Penn State facing Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl with a spot in the national title game on the line, Allar completed 12 of his 23 attempts for 135 yards and a costly interception that helped set up the game-winning field goal in the Fighting Irish’s 27-24 win.
Suffice it to say, it looks like the 20-year-old quarterback will be making good on his pledge to return to school next season. But according to Shannon Sharpe, one last year in State College might not be enough.
“Allar, Lord have mercy, he talking about, ‘Well, I’m coming back to school.’ You should,” the Hall of Fame tight end told co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson on Thursday night’s episode of Nightcap. “As a matter of fact, you should ask can you come back for two more years and after next year, file for a medical redshirt so you can come back again.”
Why Shannon Sharpe COOKING Drew Allar like this lmfaooooo pic.twitter.com/yVQL5vdvG0
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) January 10, 2025
Obviously, Sharpe is being hyperbolic, but his larger point stands. Even accounting for qualifiers like Notre Dame laying claim to one of the nation’s best defenses and Penn State’s lackluster wide receiving corps, the reality is that it’s now hard to imagine him being a legitimate first-round prospect this spring, especially when he’s already announced he’s returning to school for his senior season.
The good news for Allar is he’ll have one last year to revive his draft stock. And if he doesn’t, perhaps he should actually consider Sharpe’s suggestion he seek an additional year after that.
