Steelers rookie QB Drew Allar dazzles in preseason debut after disappointing NCAA career
Drew Allar is looking like the future of the Pittsburgh Steelers.After earning rave reviews in training camp from the likes of new head coach Mike McCarthy, Allar made everyone’s head turn Thursday when he popped off for three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) as Pittsburgh blew past Green Bay in the teams’ preseason opener, 28-9.The former Penn State standout went 10 of 13 for 153 passing yards as the offense looked electric, with Allar constantly hitting receivers in stride over the middle of the field.He showed off his arm strength and set up his playmakers for opportunities to pick up yards after the catch.“I thought Drew played very, very well,” McCarthy said postgame while also glowing about the two signal callers who played ahead of him, veteran Mason Rudolph and second-year option Will Howard.Rudolph completed 10 of 11 passes for 93 yards and no touchdowns, while also taking two sacks.Howard went 7 of 9 for 86 yards without a passing or rushing score.Starter Aaron Rodgers sat out the preseason opener and will open the regular season as the starter.Allar was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but was long heralded as a big-time quarterback who could have been a first-round pick.Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, Allar was No.4 overall on Mel Kiper’s big board, with many projecting him as a top-five draft pick.Allar opted to return to Penn State, though.The Giants held the No.
3 overall pick, where they drafted fellow Penn State teammate Abdul Carter, and some speculated that the Giants could opt to take Allar had he declared for the NFL then.Instead, the Giants selected Carter and wound up trading back into the first round to grab Ole Miss sensation Jaxson Dart.Allar’s return to Happy Valley did not pay off for him nor the program.The Nittany Lions went 7-6 last season, with coach James Franklin being fired midseason, and Allar threw for just 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions while completing 64.8 perc...