Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (15) is pursued by Michigan State defensive lineman Avery Dunn (98) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State junior quarterback Drew Allar was named to the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List on Thursday.
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is given annually to the nation’s top college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.
Drew Allar · Jr. · QB · 6-5 · 238 · Medina, Ohio · Medina
Named to the Maxwell Award Watch List.
Received honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from coaches and media in 2023.
Enters the 2024 season ranked first in school history in pass interception percentage (0.45), third in pass completion percentage (59.7), seventh in touchdown pass percentage (6.49) and eighth in pass efficiency (129.3).
Was in the starting lineup for all 13 games last season.
Was a member of the Danny O’Brien Award Class of 2023.
He completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,631 yards and 25 touchdowns (two interceptions) while scoring four touchdowns.
Set Penn State’s single-season record for lowest interception percentage (0.51) and became the first quarterback in school history to throw 10 or more touchdowns before throwing an interception in a season.
His 25 touchdown passes tied for the third-most in a season at Penn State. He ranked fifth in touchdowns accounted for (29), sixth in completions (233), seventh in attempts (389), ninth in completion percentage (59.9) and ninth in games with passes of 200 yards or more (7).
Ranked second nationally in touchdown-to-interception ratio (12.5:1).
He is tied with the Big Ten leader in passing touchdowns (25; T-18th nationally) and ranks second in points responsible (176; T-26th), fourth in passing efficiency (136.9) and passing yards (2,631), and fifth in yards per pass attempt (6.76).
Along with Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker (2022), he is the only FBS quarterback to ever throw more than 25 touchdown passes and 2 or fewer interceptions in a season.
Began the 2023 season with 251 pass attempts without an interception, the sixth-most at the start of a season since 2000, surpassed only by Louisiana Tech’s Colby Cameron (428; 2012), Oregon’s Marcus Mariota (285; 2013), Western Kentucky’s Tyrrell Pigrome (278; 2020), NC State’s Ryan Finley (274; 2017) and West Virginia’s Geno Smith (273; 2012).
He began his career with 311 pass attempts without an interception, surpassing the FBS record set by Baylor’s Robert Griffin III (209 attempts in 2008).
In his first career start, Allar threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns against West Virginia and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
The Ohio native set a career high with four passing touchdowns against Indiana and scored one passing and one rushing touchdown at Northwestern.
Collected three passing touchdowns and a rushing score against UMass and threw three touchdowns against Indiana.
Threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns at Maryland and finished the regular season with 292 yards and two touchdowns at Michigan State.
Threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss.
The Davey O’Brien Foundation will release its midseason watch list on Tuesday, October 22nd and announce its Davey O’Brien Quarterback Class of 2024 on Tuesday, October 29th.
The list of semifinalists selected from the quarterback class will be announced on Tuesday, November 12. The Foundation will announce its three finalists on Tuesday, November 26.
The winner will be announced live at the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN on December 12, 2024.
Penn State Football listed on preseason watch lists:
Drew Allar – Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award
Kaytron Allen – Doak Walker Award
Abdul Carter – Nagurski Trophy, Walter Camp Award as Player of the Year
Nick Dawkins – Dice Trophy
Tyler Duzansky – Mannelly Award
Chase Meyer – Lou Groza Award
Nicholas Singleton – Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award
Riley Thompson – Ray Guy Award
Sal Wormley – Outland Trophy
Penn State’s season opener at West Virginia on Aug. 31 will be televised at noon on FOX. The Nittany Lions return 42 key players from last year’s roster – 17 on offense, 22 on defense and three on special teams. They also return 16 starters – seven on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams.
