Drew Allar grew up in Medina, Ohio, where he was the MaxPreps Football State Player of the Year after passing for 4,444 yards and 48 touchdowns in his senior season. During his senior year, Allar was rated as the best prospect in Ohio in the Class of 2022 by 247Sports. The three other players in the top four are now Ohio State Buckeyes. 

Even though he’s the odd man out, Allar maintains that he’s “100% with Penn State.”

Allar received an offer from Ohio State when he was in high school, but as he went through the recruiting process, he never looked at the name of a school. Instead, Allar weighed the pros and cons of each option and ultimately felt Happy Valley was the best place for him to develop on and off the field. 

Now, with a top-10 matchup with Ohio State on the horizon, Allar is ready to travel west and head back into his home state. 

Despite the chance to go back to Ohio, Allar is focused on one thing: winning.

“We’re going to be facing a top team in the country on both sides of the ball,” Allar said. “They’re a great team and program with a great tradition.”

In the first game of the season where Penn State enters as the underdog, Allar knows facing the Buckeyes is a tough task. However, it’s one that he’s excited for.

“I think we look forward to that challenge and the opportunity we have this weekend,” Allar said. “We all come to Penn State to play in games like this.” 

As many in the state do, Allar grew up attending Ohio State games. Since he’s been to Ohio Stadium many times, Allar has an idea of what to expect when he rolls into The Shoe on Saturday.

“They have a great, passionate fan base,” Allar said. “It’s going to be a very challenging atmosphere, but I think it’s nothing we’re not prepared for. We practice in very loud environments all the time.”

Despite the No. 3 Buckeyes posing the biggest threat to Penn State’s unbeaten streak yet, Allar said he and the Nittany Lions must stay consistent with their preparation. 

“We just have to approach it the same. We can’t change our routine about anything because it’s been working for us,” Allar said. “At the end of the day, it’s just going out and executing our jobs and being sound in our assignments.”

James Franklin also wants Drew Allar to stay concentrated on the game, rather than getting caught up in his visit to his home state. Franklin said that, originally, he didn’t plan on talking to Allar about staying focused amid returning and playing in his old state but decided he would after it became a storyline.

“I want Drew to do the same thing he’s done all year long. I want him to prepare the same way. I want him to practice the same way,” Franklin said. “Drew doesn’t have to be anything more than he was the previous weeks. Just continue to refine the process.”