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Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was more animated Saturday at West Virginia than he was during any game last season.
He signaled for a first down after a couple of his scrambles. He quickly argued to the officials that the Mountaineers had simulated the Nittany Lions’ snap count, resulting in an ill-timed snap and a first-quarter fumble.
He nodded and smiled at West Virginia linebacker Josiah Trotter after stiff-arming him on his way to a first down.
Penn State coach James Franklin said Monday that he welcomed that reaction from Allar.
“Demonstrative is a really good word to describe it,” Franklin said. “I don’t know if I would have necessarily said that I knew it was coming, but I was sure glad it happened.”
According to his teammates, Allar has been much more assertive since summer workouts. He was elected a team captain by his teammates, coaches and staff.
He looked very comfortable in the Lions’ 34-12 season-opening win over the Mountaineers. He completed 11-of-17 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns and carried six times for 44 yards.
“It’s Year 2 for him as the starting quarterback and Year 3 in the program, so he shouldn’t look the same,” Franklin said. “He shouldn’t behave the same. There should be growth. There should be more confidence. There should be more swagger because he’s earned that.
“He’s worked really hard. You see it in his play.”
Allar’s most memorable moment was running for a first down as fended off the 6-2, 240-pound Trotter, the son of former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.
“For that to happen near our sideline,” Franklin said, “and for our sideline to see that and see him make a play that he has not made in the past and to react the way he reacted was really pretty cool.”
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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-football-team-embraces-034600452.html
Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.
Publish date : 2024-09-03 03:46:00
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