Penn State Nittany Lions College Football Pregame Quote, 12/29/2024

Q. What sort of momentum have you built in this game?

DREW ALLAR: At Penn State, we are in these types of games. That’s why we come to Penn State, to be able to play in games like this. We are not backing down from that challenge or not afraid of the challenge ahead of us.

We embrace it, because this is what we signed up for when we all signed to come here and play football. We want to be in these types of environments and playing these types of games. So there’s no point in really not embracing it. It’s just about sticking to our process and the things that have gotten us to this point this year.

Q. Boise State is second in the country in sacks against the quarterback. They get to the quarterback pretty often.

DREW ALLAR: They play through the whistle. They have a lot of sacks, and the sacks are effort sacks where they are just chasing down the quarterback, scrambling out of the pocket. And they do a really good job in their choice game up front, creating a lot of picks for either linebackers and D-ends to loop around. And they do a good job of that.

It will be a really big emphasis this week, just being on the same page protection-wise and making sure we’re in the best protection possible to give our guys a chance to win the one-on-one blocks.

Q. Your first memory of watching Boise State play, do you have one?

DREW ALLAR: I don’t know if I have one specific one. I think it relates back to the blue field, growing up and playing the NCAA 14 and always seeing the Boise State blue field. I think that’s what I always remember of them.

They’ve had a lot of great offenses in their past. Like, there’s been a lot of great quarterbacks go through that program and throw for a ton of yards. It’s really cool they have that sort of tradition, and it’s a really cool opportunity.

Q. What are names that you remember or who stands out to you on that defense?

DREW ALLAR: Really their two D-ends. They cause a lot of disruption. They do a phenomenal job. I think their linebackers do a really good job of helping those guys out with their picks and stunts up front. They are a really fast team overall. That’s the one thing that stuck out to me when I first started watching them, is how fast they are on three levels on the defense.

Secondary is a really good secondary as well. It will be a huge challenge for us. We will stick to our process and do the things that have gotten us to this point.

Q. They put a lot of guys on the line of scrimmage at times. What do you think of the pressure and the challenges with that?

DREW ALLAR: It’s unique and it can cause a lot of stress just in the pass protection game in general. I think we have a good plan right now. They do a lot of different things which can cause us a lot of stress, but I think the coaches have done a great job of giving us a good game plan and answers if those things do pop up. So for me, I look forward to it because it’s another challenge and they are statistically a really good defense. It will be a huge challenge for us, but we’re up to it for sure.

Q. Drew, how have your running backs improved, and what are those guys like in the locker room?

DREW ALLAR: They are great in the locker room. I love being around Nick [Dawkins] and Kaytron [Allen], obviously coming in together with them and being midyears with them. When we all got here, -we have been together for three years now, and it doesn’t really feel like that. It’s- flown by for sure. I love being around those guys.

They are two different personalities, obviously. They are not the most outspoken guys. But in the locker room, they are two of the funniest people in our -or- funnier people in our locker room.

But on the field wise, I think they have both grown a ton and their leadership and taking ownership of their craft and really helping out those younger running backs.

I think for both of them in the pass game, they have grown a ton this year. Just doing a great job of being involved in their pass game and when the ball comes to them, they are making a lot of guys miss after the catch which has helped the offense out this year.

Q. If you had to give an NFL scouting report on each of them [Kaytron Allen/Nicholas Singleton], how are they different? What are their physical attributes and skills?

DREW ALLAR: I think Kaytron is a really patient running back. I don’t think he gets enough credit for the vision that he has. You see him make some cuts out on the field that you don’t even know how he sees or how he feels those. I think he’s a really patient back that really understands the game.

And just his strengths and weaknesses, he will not shy away from the contact. He’s always trying to induce contact and punish the defenders.

Nick, obviously, his speed comes to mind when you get him out in space. He can really take it the distance at any point in the game. For him, it’s been cool to see his evolution as a pass catcher. Obviously, he’s had a lot of catches for us this year and touchdowns in key situations.

I think the one thing about both of them, they both have the pass protection. They are really clued in on our pass protection game and do a great job of helping me out and giving me enough time to deliver the ball down the field to our playmakers.