With the college football season quickly approaching, interested eyes are on the Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback battle, where Drew Allar and Beau Pribula are vying to succeed the departed Sean Clifford.
Head Coach James Franklin shed some light on the competition during the Big Ten Media Days.
“A lot of people are talking about Drew and what he brings to the table,” Franklin said, acknowledging the buzz surrounding the 6-foot-5, 242-pound sophomore quarterback. “He was able to get a ton of experience for us last year. I think he played in 10 games, so I understand why the excitement is there.”
“(He’s) 6-foot-5, 242 pounds and can make all the throws, but Beau Pribula is a guy that everyone in our program has a ton of respect for. That’s going to be an interesting competition throughout the entire camp.”
Last season, Allar showcased his immense talent as the backup to Sean Clifford. In his appearances, the former top-ranked quarterback recruit in 2022 impressed with 344 passing yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
On the other hand, Beau Pribula, who was also part of the 2022 signing class, didn’t see any game action. Despite being likely considered the backup to Allar at this stage, Franklin emphasized the importance of reaching a decision promptly once preseason camp begins.
“Obviously the sooner, the better, but we’re not going to rush any of these decisions at any of these positions,” Franklin asserted. “We grade everything in every practice. So all the data will be there.”
“Obviously, you’re going to trust your gut and your instincts on those things as well, but you have the data to back it up. I think at any of these positions, the sooner, the better.”
Franklin acknowledged that the quarterback position is unique and crucial, as the person who steps into Clifford’s shoes will have to fill some big ones.
Clifford holds numerous Penn State records, including all-time leader in completion percentage (61.4%), completions (833), passing yards (10,661), total yards (11,734), passing touchdowns (86), and pass attempts (1,356).
As the Nittany Lions gear up for the upcoming season, they are fresh off an impressive 11-2 campaign, highlighted by a 35-21 victory against Utah in the Rose Bowl.
The win marked their first triumph in Pasadena since 1995, and they will undoubtedly carry the momentum into this season, starting with their opener against West Virginia on September 2.
Having said all of this, do you really think there’s a true quarterback battle happening?
This could very well be a case of Franklin trying to motivate Allar by stating that his starting job is not guaranteed.
In the end, Pribula is certainly talented, but you have to imagine Franklin and the Nittany Lions go full-steam ahead with Allar.