A recently shared notebook page from an ex-New York Jets scout provides a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the 2024 film evaluation of Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. The chaotic, handwritten notes sprawl across a spiral-bound page, revealing the intricate process of breaking down Allar’s performance over a 16-game season.
Scouting Breakdown Raises Questions About Drew Allar’s Efficiency and Route Design
The scout’s notes, dense with shorthand and diagrams, highlight a central concern: Allar’s efficiency under pressure. Despite his impressive 2024 stats—3,327 passing yards, a 66.5% completion rate, and 24 touchdowns —the analysis questions whether his success stems from his own decision-making or Penn State’s offensive scheme.
The scout scribbles, “Too many safe throws—needs to push vertical more,” suggesting Allar may struggle in systems requiring aggressive downfield passing, a trait NFL teams covet in vertically oriented offenses.
What a 16-game 2024 full season film evaluation of Penn State QB Drew Allar looks like in my scouting notebook. pic.twitter.com/t4GqQrc6A6
— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) May 7, 2025
Another focal point is Penn State’s route design, which the scout critiques as overly simplistic. The notes repeatedly mention “limited progression reads” and “pre-determined throws,” indicating that Allar often relied on first-read options rather than working through complex progressions.
This raises red flags about his adaptability, especially for NFL offenses demanding quarterbacks to dissect defenses precisely.
Allar’s performance against USC, where he threw for 391 yards—the sixth-most in Penn State history—offers a contrasting perspective. The scout praises his arm talent, noting “absolute laser on deep outs,” but questions his consistency, writing, “Misses open WRs when pressured—footwork sloppy.”
This duality paints Allar as a developmental prospect with elite physical gifts but significant areas for growth, particularly in high-stakes situations where NFL quarterbacks must excel.
Physical Tools Spark Optimism for Allar’s NFL Future
Allar’s physical attributes, however, remain a beacon of hope for scouts. At 6’5” and 240 pounds, his size and arm strength are undeniable, as noted in the scout’s enthusiastic remark, “Cannon for an arm—can make every throw.”
The 33rd Team’s scouting report echoes this, stating, “Allar has perhaps the best tools of any quarterback eligible for the 2025 Draft.” This raw potential suggests he could thrive with proper coaching in a system tailored to his strengths.
The mobility of Allar, also a seldom-talked-about part of his game, is also emphasized in the notebook. We see in him the potential to add rushing touchdowns – six in 2024, which is tied with Bill O’Brien for seventh-best among QBs in Nittany Lion history – an attribute that the scout calls “sneaky good.”
This adaptability might make him a candidate at teams looking for a dual-threat quarterback, assuming that he works on improving the consistency of his passing game.
Still, the scout’s final notes underscore the need for development: “High ceiling, low floor—needs time.” This sentiment aligns with broader evaluations, as Allar’s 153.3 passing efficiency (third in Penn State history) shows promise, but his growth will depend on addressing the inefficiencies flagged in the tape analysis.
NFL teams will need to weigh his upside against the risks.
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The ex-Jet scout’s notebook offers a rare window into the granular process of evaluating a prospect like Drew Allar, balancing his elite physical tools against concerns about efficiency and adaptability.
While his 2024 season showcased moments of brilliance, the unfiltered notes reveal a quarterback with work to do before he’s NFL-ready. As the 2025 Draft approaches, Allar remains a polarizing prospect whose potential could dazzle or disappoint at the next level.
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