When people talk about the "post-Joe Paterno" era at Penn State, names like Christian Hackenberg or Trace McSorley usually hog the spotlight. But if you’re a die-hard Nittany Lions fan or just someone who obsessively tracks the transfer portal, there's another name that pops up in trivia nights: Drew Allen. Honestly, his story is one of those "what if" scenarios that college football is famous for. You’ve got a kid with an absolute cannon for an arm, a literal giant in the pocket, and yet, he’s often just a footnote in the Happy Valley history books.
Why? Because timing is everything in sports. Basically, Allen was a victim of a crowded depth chart and a program in total flux. He didn’t leave Penn State because he couldn't play; he left because a certain freshman phenom arrived and sucked all the air out of the room. It’s a story of talent vs. opportunity, and for Drew Allen Penn State was the place where he waited, watched, and eventually realized his path lay elsewhere.
The Oklahoma Arrival and the Transfer Jump
To understand why Drew Allen ended up at Penn State, you have to look at where he started. He wasn't some local kid from Pennsylvania. He was a highly-touted recruit out of San Antonio, Texas, who originally signed with the Oklahoma Sooners. At 6-foot-5 and over 220 pounds, he looked like he was built in a lab to play quarterback for Bob Stoops.
But things got complicated in Norman. He spent years sitting behind Landry Jones, a guy who basically rewrote the OU record books. When Jones finally graduated, the door seemed open, but then Blake Bell (the "Belldozer") and Trevor Knight entered the mix. Allen saw the writing on the wall. He was a graduate transfer, which back in 2013 was a much bigger deal than the "portal" era we have now. He had one year of eligibility left and he wanted to spend it somewhere he could actually start.
Enter Bill O'Brien.
O'Brien was still cleaning up the mess of the sanctions and looking for a veteran presence. Penn State needed a bridge. Matt McGloin was gone. The roster was thin. It seemed like a match made in heaven. Allen headed to Happy Valley with the expectation that he would be the guy to lead the Lions through a very dark period.
Drew Allen Penn State: The Battle for the Starting Job
When Allen arrived in State College for the 2013 season, the hype was real. Fans were desperate for a big-armed quarterback who could execute O'Brien's NFL-style offense. But there was a problem. A 19-year-old kid from Virginia named Christian Hackenberg had just stepped on campus.
The 2013 training camp was a slugfest. Honestly, most people expected the veteran Allen to win the job easily. Experience usually beats raw potential in the first week of September. But Hackenberg wasn't your average freshman. He was a five-star recruit with a level of poise that caught everyone off guard.
The Quarterback Competition Breakdown
- The Veteran (Allen): Better understanding of complex defensive schemes, physically mature, and had seen Big 12 speed for four years.
- The Newcomer (Hackenberg): The "chosen one" of the 2013 recruiting class, specifically recruited by O'Brien to be the face of the program's rebirth.
Bill O'Brien kept the decision close to his chest for weeks. He’d talk about "competition" and "daily improvement," but the vibe around the Lasch Building was shifting. Allen was doing everything right. He was leading. He was vocal. But every time Hackenberg touched the ball, you could see the future of the program.
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Then came the season opener against Syracuse.
The Syracuse Game and the End of the Road
It’s easy to forget now, but the game against Syracuse at MetLife Stadium was supposed to be Allen’s big debut. Instead, O'Brien named Hackenberg the starter. Allen didn't even see the field for a meaningful snap.
That was basically it.
In one afternoon, Allen went from the projected savior to the backup. It was a tough pill to swallow for a guy who had already spent four years waiting his turn at Oklahoma. He had transferred specifically to avoid this exact scenario. But life in the Big Ten is cold. Hackenberg went on to have a stellar freshman year, and Allen spent his final year of college football holding a clipboard.
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It’s kinda tragic when you think about it. Allen had all the physical tools to be a Sunday player. He had the height, the arm strength, and the intelligence. But he ran into two generational roadblocks: Landry Jones at Oklahoma and Christian Hackenberg at Penn State.
The Misconception of the "Failed" Transfer
A lot of people look at the Drew Allen Penn State stint and call it a failure. That’s a bit unfair. Honestly, his presence in that locker room was massive. Remember, Penn State was still under heavy NCAA sanctions. They were playing with a limited roster and a lot of young, inexperienced kids.
Having a fifth-year senior like Allen, who had been in the Oklahoma system, was like having an extra coach on the field. He helped mentor Hackenberg. He kept the locker room stable during a time when the program could have easily spiraled. While his stats at Penn State are essentially non-existent, his impact on the culture during a rebuilding year shouldn't be ignored.
He eventually finished his career and moved on, but his story serves as a cautionary tale for the modern transfer portal. You can pick the right school, find the right coach, and have the right talent—but if the guy behind you is a future NFL draft pick, none of that matters.
Lessons From the Drew Allen Era
Looking back, what can we actually learn from Allen’s time in Happy Valley?
First, the "Graduate Transfer" gamble is high-risk, high-reward. For every Russell Wilson, there are ten Drew Allens—guys who move for playing time and find themselves in another logjam.
Second, it shows just how much Bill O'Brien valued his "system" players. O'Brien didn't care about seniority; he cared about who could execute the pro-style reads. If a freshman could do it better than a fifth-year senior, the freshman played. It was a ruthless, NFL-style approach that defined O'Brien's short but impactful tenure.
If you're a Penn State fan, you should remember Drew Allen not for the passes he didn't throw, but for the stability he provided. He was a bridge. He was the insurance policy that allowed the program to transition into the next era.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Evaluate Transfers Beyond Stats: When looking at current portal entries, don't just look at their arm talent. Look at the depth chart they are entering. Allen was a great player who entered a "trap" depth chart.
- The "Bridge" Quarterback Value: Every program needs a veteran presence, even if they don't start. If you see your team bring in an older QB who ends up on the bench, don't assume it was a waste of a scholarship.
- Timing Over Talent: In college football, being the right guy at the wrong time is the same as being the wrong guy.
Allen’s journey from Texas to Oklahoma to Pennsylvania is a wild ride that didn't end with a Heisman or a Big Ten title. But it’s a real, human part of the Penn State story. It reminds us that for every star we cheer for on Saturdays, there’s someone like Drew Allen who worked just as hard but never got the bounce of the ball.