Drew Allar could be 'The Difference' for Penn State

"STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- In the predawn darkness, Drew Allar pulls his SUV into the Penn State football facility every Monday around 5:45 a.m. He beats many of the coaches into the building and often starts his day by slugging down a blueberry lemonade flavored G.O.A.T. Fuel. The drink is consumed for the caffeine jolt, not the inspiration. But as Allar enters his fourth and final season as Penn State's quarterback, he remains locked in on finding the elusive edges that will allow the collision of his talent and development to lead to a breakthrough for the program, his coach and his own promising career."

"Allar, 21, is a throwback quarterback who has come of age in perhaps the flashiest era in college football history. Allar bloomed so late that he didn't start at Medina High School until four games remained in his sophomore year. He is appreciative of waiting his turn to start at Penn State behind Sean Clifford, and multiple coaches pointed out that he still dates his high school sweetheart."

"And he knows exactly how he'll do it. "I think it's kind of my story," Allar told ESPN recently. "It's about the process, and not really the end result. So just immersing yourself in the hard work, the unseen work.""

Drew Allar follows a rigorous pre-dawn routine at Penn State, using focused habits and caffeine to begin training sessions early. He enters his fourth and final season determined to refine edges that combine his physical traits and development into a program-level breakthrough. Allar started late in high school, earned 26 wins as a starter over three seasons, and measures 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, projecting as a top 2026 NFL prospect. A costly interception in a College Football Playoff semifinal intensified his commitment, prompting immediate return to disciplined offseason work and a process-oriented mindset.

Read at ESPN.com