‘He’s got it’: Penn State icon Kerry Collins likes what

• Jake Trotter, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterOct 10, 2024, 07:00 AM ET Close Jake Trotter covers college football for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2011. Before that, he worked at The Oklahoman, Austin American-Statesman and Middletown (Ohio) Journal newspapers. You can follow him @Jake_Trotter.

MENTION COLLEGE, Pa.– The night before last year’s Peach Bowl, Drew Allar fulfilled the last Penn State quarterback to go undefeated. Kerry Collins, named honorary captain for the game versus Ole Miss, ate dinner with Allar and the group at their hotel.The Nittany Lions have boasted winning quarterbacks throughout the years. But given that propelling Penn State to a 12-0 record three decades ago, the 6-foot-5 Collins had not encountered a prototypical Penn State passer who reminded him of when he played– up until Allar.”He’s physically enforcing,” said Collins, taken with the fifth choice in the 1995 draft by the Carolina Panthers before playing 17 seasons in the NFL. “He’s got an NFL body and capability. There are other guys that have actually had significant success. But I would not always state what they had actually equated into what is required in the NFL. … Drew has that, a hundred percent.”Heading into Saturday’s match at USC, the fourth-ranked

Nittany Lions are off to a 5-0 start for the 4th straight season, the only FBS program to accomplish the feat, according to ESPN Research study. But behind Allar and his Collins-like 6-foot-5 frame, Penn State has hopes of breaking through to its very first playoff appearance. Drew Allar has Penn State 5-0 heading into a conference with USC. Matthew O’Haren/ Imagn Images To Allar, Collins is a model of all that he and these Nittany Lions can achieve. Walking through the athletic centers, he sees photos of Collins daily, a consistent reminder of the 1994 team that ended up second in the polls behind national champ Nebraska.”Being able to pick his brain a bit was actually cool,” Allar said.”His biggest message was to take it all

in, enjoy it … and just do whatever you can to improve and put yourself in position to assist your group win.” Collins has seen Allar go on to do simply that.In lots of methods, Allar had a banner very first season as the starter in 2015. He passed for 25 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions for the country’s second-best touchdown-to-interception ratio behind Oregon’s Bo Nix, who now starts for the Denver Broncos.Yet when it mattered most, Penn State’s offense ultimately did not have punch, especially in losses to Ohio State and Michigan. Allar finished simply 18 of his 42 passes against the Buckeyes and

threw for only 70 yards against the Wolverines.Editor’s Picks Although the Nittany Lions won

10 games, Allar

ranked 92nd with simply 6.8 lawns per passing attempt.Over the offseason, coach James Franklin employed offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas to help unlock Allar’s big arm.” You watch him toss, he’s got a capability to toss the ball like very few individuals,”Franklin said.

“He’s got the size to hold up in the pocket from a toughness standpoint and after that he’s got the ability to step up in the pocket, through an arm tackle, and make a big-time toss. “With Kotelnicki’s pro-style downfield attack, Allar is now transforming those

big-time tosses. He ranks fifth nationally in QBR(88.8)and 5th with approximately 10.7 backyards per effort.” I believe he’s gotten his confidence,”tight end Tyler Warren said.” Revealing confidence not only to himself, however to our offense, also. “The offense is playing more confidently as an outcome. Flanked by the versatile Warren and dynamic running back tandem of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, the Nittany Lions rank 10th in offensive EPA(expected points included). “He has all the tools to be an excellent NFL quarterback, … very talented, “stated an NFL workers executive who applauded Allar’s uptick in precision.”He’s been allowed to throw it more down the field this year. … the arrow is definitely punctuating. “Collins became a follower in Allar’s possible just enjoying him heat up before the Peach Bowl. “How the ball comes out of his hand, he’s got it,”

Collins stated.” It’s got a good whip to it, excellent breeze to his arm. All the physical tools are there. ” Kerry Collins led Penn State to a 12-0 season in 1994. Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT Collins had all the tools when he came to State College. But like Allar, he struggled in face-offs versus Ohio State and Michigan in 1993, Penn State’s inaugural year in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions scored just one goal in a loss to Michigan. The following week, Collins tossed four interceptions in an Ohio State rout.Collins said the experience of those 2 losses prepared the Nittany Lions for their 1994 run.” All of a sudden, it just clicked, “Collins stated.”We had that moxie.

We had that attitude that, no matter the scenario, we’re going to step up.”Those star-studded Nittany Lions featured All-America running back Ki-Jana Carter and tight end Kyle Brady, who both became top-10 draft choices, along with Collins.In back-to-back games, Penn State knocked off Michigan 31-24 and after that blasted Ohio State 63-14; in that win, Collins threw for 256 yards without a turnover.The Nittany Lions would go on to complete unbeaten, coasting previous Oregon in the Rose Bowl.”We had such belief and self-confidence in who we were and what we were doing, that it was much like, ‘OK, next,'”Collins stated.”It didn’t matter what helmet they were wearing, what jersey color. … And from a quarterback viewpoint, I had to learn– and I got

good at– being unemotional and obviously being ready to play. I utilized to call it being cold and computing.” Allstate Playoff Predictor How will Saturday’s leading games affect the College Football Playoff go after? What are the existing chances for the leading four? The Allstate Playoff Predictor has the responses. Check back weekly as the chances are updated following that week’s games. Collins sees Allar developing a similar behavior.”Being around the kid a little bit and just hearing aspects of him, he’s a severe kid,”Collins said.” He takes it seriously. He wants to do well.”2 weeks ago for homecoming, Penn State honored the 1994 team. In spite of being the offending coordinator for Summit High School in Spring Hill, Tennessee, Collins still made it, in addition to Carter, the honorary captain for the coin toss.Allar didn’t set up huge numbers in a hard-fought 21-7 success over No. 23 Illinois. However he still engineered the game-clinching touchdown drive late in the 4th quarter.”He told us in the huddle, we’re going to complete this drive,”Singleton said. “He brings the energy. … shows the type of leader he is.”Allar stated he intends to one day follow in Collins’steps and end up being an NFL starter.

But at the minute, he’s focused on assisting these Nittany Lions reach their potential. “We have actually high aspirations,”he said.Collins came excruciatingly close to leading Penn State to its third

national championship, and initially given that 1986. In Allar, he sees a passer who can lastly press the Nittany Lions back over

the top.”I could see them actually hitting their stride and being an issue for individuals in the playoffs,”he said. “And when it comes time to make those plays that a quarterback needs to make, I believe that Drew can and will do it.”