Medina's Drew Allar hopes to prove NFL potential after injury

The former Penn State quarterback is looking to show teams, including his hometown Browns, that he can still be a solid NFL quarterback.

Feb. 27, 2026 at 8:34pm

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Drew Allar, a highly decorated quarterback from Medina, Ohio, is trying to prove to NFL teams that he can still be a franchise quarterback after a disappointing four seasons at Penn State that ended with a broken ankle. Allar, who grew up a Browns fan, is hoping to get an opportunity to play for his hometown team, but is focused on showing all teams that he has the physical tools and mental acumen to succeed at the next level.

Why it matters

Allar was once considered a sure-fire NFL prospect, but his college career never quite took off as planned. The injury that ended his senior season at Penn State has raised questions about his durability and ability to bounce back. This combine and draft process is crucial for Allar to prove he can still be the type of quarterback he was projected to become coming out of high school.

The details

Allar chose to attend Penn State in 2021 after a recruiting process that was slow to pick up among big-time schools. He took over as the starter for the Nittany Lions as a sophomore and had a strong junior season, but the way it ended with a playoff loss to Notre Dame left more questions than answers. Allar had already committed to returning for his senior season before the injury, which he is now focused on rehabbing in order to show teams he is fully healthy and ready to compete.

  • Allar led Medina to a regional final appearance with a win over Cleveland powerhouse St. Ignatius in 2020.
  • Allar committed to Penn State in the spring of 2021.
  • Allar took over as the starter for Penn State as a sophomore in 2022.
  • Allar suffered a broken ankle against Northwestern in November 2023, ending his senior season.
  • Allar is participating in the NFL Combine in February 2026.

The players

Drew Allar

A highly decorated quarterback from Medina, Ohio who is trying to prove to NFL teams, including his hometown Browns, that he can still be a franchise quarterback after a disappointing college career at Penn State that was cut short by injury.

Chuck Kyle

The head coach of St. Ignatius High School, who said after Allar's win over his team in 2020 that "colleges better look at this guy."

Sean Clifford

The starting quarterback at Penn State who Allar backed up as a freshman in 2021.

Andy Kotelnicki

The offensive coordinator at Penn State who was brought in before Allar's junior season to help modernize the offense.

Joe Thomas

A former offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns, who Allar said was one of the first Browns jerseys he owned growing up.

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What they’re saying

“We've seen a lot of good ones, and colleges better look at this guy.”

— Chuck Kyle, St. Ignatius High School head coach

“I love Medina. I love going back every chance I can. I have some of my best friends from all my youth sports teams, still to this day, as my best friends, some of my best coaches and mentors are from Medina. It taught me a lot, for sure. And I wouldn't change where I went to high school, where I grew up or anything like that.”

— Drew Allar

What’s next

Allar will participate in the throwing portion of the NFL Combine on Saturday and at Penn State's pro day as he continues to prove his health and NFL potential to teams.

The takeaway

Drew Allar's journey from a highly touted high school prospect to a disappointing college career and now an uncertain NFL future highlights the unpredictability of the path to the pros. Allar is determined to show teams, including his hometown Browns, that he can still be the franchise quarterback he was once projected to become.