Louis Riddick debates whether UCLA loss impacts Drew Allar's NFL Draft stock

The fallout from the UCLA upset over Penn State has been fascinating and wide-sweeping. Most of that has been focused on what it means for the Nittany Lions this season. However, for quarterback Drew Allar, it could also affect his NFL future.

ESPN analyst Louis Riddick appeared on Get Up on Wednesday. There, he broke down what he saw from Allar and how it could potentially take its toll on his NFL Draft stock. That could even cost him being a first round pick.

“Potentially,” Louis Riddick said. “Because you’re seeing some guys really heat up. There are some guys at the top of the draft that we’ll be talking about, who right now look like they’re playing faster, look like they’re playing with more confidence, throwing the football with better accuracy, leading their football teams to quality wins, and not losing to teams like UCLA. Who, absolutely, Penn State, when you look at them roster for roster, should be running out of the Rose Bowl. Drew Allar is a part of that.”

Drew Allar came to Penn State as a massive, five-star recruit in the Class of 2022. He’d take over as the starting quarterback there in 2023 and lead the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinal in 2024. At that point, he had to decide whether to go pro or return to Happy Valley. He chose the latter, a decision that made him appear like a quarterback who could develop into a first round pick for the 2026 NFL Draft.

It’s been a struggle, though. Penn State opened with three cupcake games. Since then, they’re 0-2 in the Big Ten. That includes an explainable loss to Oregon that ended on an Allar interception. Then, the disaster of a loss against UCLA. For the season, Allar is completing 64.7 percent of passes for 963 yards and eight touchdowns to two interceptions.

“Now, I saw him at the end of last year in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State,” Riddick said. “And I’m sitting there going, ‘No wonder he wants to come back because I think he can ball himself into a Top 10 pick.’ He just doesn’t look the same this year. He doesn’t look like he’s playing with the same confidence, and if he keeps looking like that, scouts, without a doubt, are going to move him down.”

The reality for Drew Allar and Penn State is that the season is less than half over. So, there is time to turn things around. For now, however, he hasn’t looked like a top-tier NFL Draft pick.

James Franklin addresses criticism that Drew Allar is not a fit for Andy Kotelnicki’s offensive system

One major concern has been that Drew Allar isn’t a fit for offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and his system. That’s a criticism that head coach James Franklin has heard and addressed before the UCLA game.

“I’m not gonna get into what’s going on out there in terms of opinions and those types of things,” Franklin said. “I didn’t feel that way last year. I thought we did some really good things last year and I think we’ve done some good things this year. Just not consistent enough. It’s a pro-style offense. What we do in the run game and the pass game and in protections and pass concepts is pro-style. I don’t necessarily see it the same way.”

Now, Penn State returns to Happy Valley for its next Big Ten test. There, the Nittany Lions and Drew Allar need to get back on track against Northwestern.