A lot has transpired since Drew Allar took his last snap for Penn State football.

Heading into the season, Allar and Penn State had National Championship aspirations, with many even placing the senior quarterback in the Heisman Trophy conversation. 

Despite a 3-0 start to the year, Allar threw for over 200 yards just once over the course of a six-game span and watched the season quickly unravel following a devastating double-overtime loss to Oregon.

The final game of Allar’s collegiate career would come two weeks later, when he suffered a broken left ankle in the fourth quarter of the team’s one-point loss to Northwestern.

Prior to the 2025 season, many NFL teams reportedly had Allar near the top of their draft boards if he were to declare for the draft. Coming off a College Football Playoff Semifinal appearance and his best season in the blue and white, professional scouts were incredibly high on the arm talent of No. 15.  

And while the highly touted prospect from Medina, Ohio, may not have ended his Penn State tenure the way he would have intended, a career in the NFL remains as large and feasible a goal as ever.

Allar was invited to the NFL Combine in late February to showcase his talent and perhaps win over a few doubters he may have had following his recent shortcomings.

He did just that, successfully demonstrating the downfield passing aspect of his game that had lacked during his time in Happy Valley. He received an overall grade of 5.98, the sixth-highest at the signal caller position, placing two spots higher than Heisman finalist Diego Pavia. 

Although Allar exhibited faults when it came to his rhythm and poise, his ability to make throws with velocity undoubtedly provided him with a much-needed boost in his draft stock. 

On Wednesday, Allar looked to further enhance his profile during Penn State’s 2026 Pro Day. The session marked the final time that Allar would be able to show off on home turf, as the moment he has dreamt of his whole life stands just weeks away. 

From the moment he took the field in warmups, it was clear that Allar was there to not only display his football skills, but also his passion for the game. 

“I would say I’m a competitor,” Allar said. “Whenever there’s a chance to throw, I’m going to throw. I would throw seven times a week if I could, for every team in the league. That’s just how I am.”

Since Allar went down with his ankle injury, he made it a priority to use his ample downtime as a chance to develop, an example of his work ethic that he hopes NFL teams will pick up on. Allar believes he has grown both athletically and mechanically over the past few months.

Over that timeframe, Allar went through significant physical therapy to make sure he was back in shape and primed for pre-draft workouts. He trained in California, where he underwent rehabilitation to help him get back to speed. 

Five months after suffering the first major setback of his career, he appears to be back at 100%. It’s also worth noting that Allar weighed in at 232 pounds at Pro Day, roughly 10 pounds lighter than he was last season.

“I could have played a game, I feel like, two weeks ago,” he said.

During individual drills, Allar set the tone from the beginning in more ways than one. A known Drake fan, he made sure the music in Holuba Hall was blasting his favorite tunes as he went about his throwing duties, further exemplifying the level of fun he’s been having as he prepares to take the next step.

“This is my job, but it’s also my passion,” he said.

Looking forward, Allar is taking it one day at a time as he continues to meet with teams ahead of April’s draft in Pittsburgh. 

“[I will] just let the chips fall where they may. I don’t know what round, what pick, what team I’m going to be drafted to,” he said. “All I can hope for is the opportunity to go into a good situation and just compete, make myself a better player, and hopefully contribute to winning.”

Allar knows quite well what playing on a professional level will require of him. He is no stranger to analyzing NFL tape. He grew up watching the league every Sunday and continues to do so. Watching tapes of various defenses during some of his meetings has been an invaluable experience for him as he continues to grow as a player.

This week was also not Allar’s first time attending a Penn State Pro Day. He recalls watching Sean Clifford connect with Jahan Dotson back in 2022 in the same building. Allar has also thrown to Theo Johnson, DaeSean Hamilton, and Julian Fleming at previous editions of the event.

“It’s been fun being able to be a part of Pro Day the last couple of years,” Allar said. “It definitely flies, though. The days feel long, but the years really add up fast.”

With the recent departures of James Franklin and quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien, Penn State will undoubtedly look different than the way Allar left it. He has some familiarity with Matt Campbell and his staff, as Iowa State was in Allar’s top three coming out of high school. Allar has spent the past several days rebuilding relationships with Campbell’s crew before ultimately departing State College.

“It’s definitely been different, things are reorganized and all that sort of stuff,” Allar said. “But it’s been good meeting everybody again, between strength staff, training staff, all the players, and catching up with all my old teammates. I’ve been back for a week, so it’s been fun.”

But the one thing that will remain the same is Penn State’s drive for a national title. Allar’s decision to forgo the 2025 draft to play one more season in the blue and white will forever cement him as a Penn State icon, despite his complex legacy.

Though falling well short of expectations this past season, Allar’s commitment to the program is something that he believes will leave lasting success in Happy Valley for years to come.

“I would have liked to have brought in more hardware. That’s part of the reason why I came back. But I feel like, between myself and all my teammates that are out here today, we put Penn State in a really good position,” he said. “I’m really proud of all that.”