So, Terry Smith, Penn State’s assistant coach, hopped on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan recently and broke down his thoughts on Drew Allar. If you’ve followed college football at all, you know Allar—three-year starter, huge recruit, and now a fresh third-round pick for the Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Smith’s take on Allar’s Penn State years and what might be next for him in Pittsburgh is pretty revealing. He didn’t hold back on what worked, what didn’t, and why he thinks the NFL could bring out the best in Allar.
Allar’s Fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Smith sounded genuinely optimistic about Allar landing with the Steelers. He pointed out that Allar’s got the drive and isn’t afraid to put in the work for his new team.
The Steelers’ offense, Smith thinks, should line up much better with Allar’s strengths. That’s got to be a relief for both the team and the quarterback, right?
Challenges at Penn State
Smith got pretty honest about the struggles Allar had at Penn State, especially with Andy Kotelnicki running the offense. Even though Allar looked like a possible top-10 pick and maybe even a Heisman guy, the scheme just didn’t fit him.
His last season was rough, too—an ankle injury slowed him down. That whole mess led to James Franklin’s firing and Smith stepping up as interim head coach.
Offensive System Limitations
The offense at Penn State just wasn’t built for a pro-style quarterback like Allar. For some reason, the coaches kept calling more designed runs, but Allar’s not a natural runner.
Smith described him as a pocket passer who can buy time, but let’s be real, he’s not a dual-threat guy. That’s just not his game.
Allar’s Performance and Potential
Even with the system working against him, Allar still showed he could deliver when it mattered. Some of his best moments came against teams like Oregon and UCLA, where he handled pressure surprisingly well.
Smith seems convinced that, with the right coaching, Allar’s got the tools—physically and mentally—to make it as a pro quarterback. Hard to argue with that, honestly.
Leadership and Commitment
Smith didn’t just talk X’s and O’s—he also praised Allar’s leadership. When Smith became interim coach, Allar was banged up but still stayed involved with the team.
He went out of his way to mentor freshman QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, which says a lot about his character. You don’t see that every day.
Statistical Achievements
Allar’s numbers at Penn State were nothing to sneeze at. He left his mark on the school’s record books, finishing high in a bunch of categories:
- 7,402 passing yards (fourth)
- 61 touchdown passes (third)
- 633 pass completions (fourth)
- 8,134 yards of total offense (fourth)
- 1.30 interception rate (first)
- 63.1% completion rate (first)
Future Prospects in Pittsburgh
Now, Allar’s walking into a Steelers QB room with Will Howard and Mason Rudolph. New head coach Mike McCarthy seems pretty upbeat about Allar’s potential, mentioning his arm strength and upside.
Smith even floated the idea that having Aaron Rodgers around to mentor Allar would be a dream scenario. Imagine the kind of advice Rodgers could give a young QB trying to figure out the league.
Looking Ahead
As Allar starts his NFL journey, he’ll need all the support and guidance he can get from coaches and teammates. Smith’s confident Allar’s got what it takes, but the NFL’s a whole different animal.
Guess we’ll see over the next few seasons if he can put it all together and really make his mark in Pittsburgh.
Conclusion
Drew Allar’s journey from Penn State to the Pittsburgh Steelers says a lot about his resilience. He’s had to deal with an offensive system that didn’t really fit his style, which isn’t easy for any quarterback.
Still, Allar’s shown leadership and commitment. His stats? Pretty impressive, honestly.
With the right coaching, it’s not hard to imagine him making waves in the NFL. If you’re curious about what Terry Smith had to say, you can check out the full interview on 247Sports here.
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