“Chuck Losey Backs His QB: Penn State Strength Coach Says Drew Allar’s 2025 Performance Will Silence NFL Doubts”

The 2025 college football season hasn’t kicked off yet, but confidence is already running high in Happy Valley. At the center of that optimism stands Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, a name that’s been floated in NFL circles since his high school days. But after a 2024 campaign that left some analysts questioning whether Allar truly fits the mold of a first-round pick, the talk surrounding his future has intensified. Penn State strength and conditioning coach Chuck Losey, however, wants the chatter to stop. Or more precisely, he believes Allar himself will put it to rest with the way he performs this season.

Chuck Losey, a longtime figure in the Penn State football program and the architect behind many of the team’s most physically dominant athletes, hasn’t minced words when it comes to his belief in Allar. During a recent summer media availability, Losey made his stance clear: “Drew’s work ethic, leadership, and physical transformation this offseason have been incredible. I think once he steps on the field this fall, the NFL talk will take care of itself. His play will speak for itself.”

That declaration wasn’t made casually. Allar has been under a microscope since the moment he arrived in State College. A former five-star recruit and one of the most highly touted quarterback prospects in the country, Allar was handed the reins of the Nittany Lions’ offense amid soaring expectations. And while the numbers he posted during his first full season as a starter in 2024—3,248 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just six interceptions—were impressive on paper, the critics pointed to a lack of explosive plays and a perceived hesitancy in big-game moments as areas of concern.

Yet inside the Penn State locker room and weight room, the narrative is vastly different. Losey and others on James Franklin’s staff see a quarterback who is only just beginning to tap into his potential. And more importantly, they see a young man who has spent the offseason attacking every weakness with relentless drive. From early morning workouts to private throwing sessions with receivers, Allar has approached this offseason with the kind of intensity that Losey says sets NFL-caliber players apart from everyone else.

“Drew is a different guy this year,” Losey said. “Not just physically—although he’s trimmed down, added functional strength, and improved his quickness—but mentally and emotionally. He’s become the voice in the room. He’s taken command in a way that you don’t always see from young quarterbacks. And that’s what NFL teams want. They want to see the full package, and Drew is building that right now.”

Indeed, the transformation has not gone unnoticed by teammates. Multiple Penn State offensive players have spoken this summer about Allar’s increased vocal presence and sharper command of the offense during 7-on-7 drills and team workouts. Where last year’s Allar may have deferred to older voices in the huddle, this year’s version is the one setting the tempo and pushing teammates to match his energy.

Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who returns as Allar’s top target, said recently that he’s seen a major shift in Allar’s demeanor. “You can just tell he knows this is his team now. He’s not just trying to play well; he’s trying to lead, trying to dominate. We’re following his lead.”

That mentality has been forged in the shadows of what many view as a make-or-break year for Penn State. The Nittany Lions are expected to contend for a College Football Playoff berth in the newly expanded 12-team field, and Allar’s development is central to those aspirations. With Michigan breaking in a new quarterback, Ohio State undergoing another offensive reboot, and USC entering the Big Ten fray with questions on both sides of the ball, the door is wide open for Penn State to emerge as a power in 2025. But it all hinges on Allar becoming the player many expected him to be.

Losey’s confidence in Allar is grounded in years of observation and development. As the head of Penn State’s strength program, Losey has overseen the physical progression of some of the school’s top athletes, including Saquon Barkley, Micah Parsons, and Odafe Oweh. What sets Allar apart, Losey says, isn’t just his physical gifts—it’s his resilience and willingness to self-assess and grow.

“There’s a difference between talent and hunger,” Losey explained. “We’ve had a lot of talented guys come through this program. But the ones who make it to the league and stay there? They’re the ones who show up every day wanting to be coached, wanting to get better. Drew is in that group now. He doesn’t make excuses, doesn’t get defensive. He asks the hard questions and then goes out and works.”

One of those hard questions revolved around mobility. Allar’s size—6-foot-5 and 240 pounds—has long made him an imposing figure in the pocket, but critics argued that he lacked the escapability and creativity that define many of today’s elite quarterbacks. Over the winter and spring, Allar committed to transforming his body, shedding excess weight and working with speed coaches to increase his burst and footwork.

The results, according to Losey, have been dramatic. “He’s moving better, reacting faster, and making more plays outside the pocket in practice. We’ve challenged him to push himself, and he’s responded every time. He’s not just a statuesque pocket passer anymore. He’s becoming a dual-threat leader, and that makes him even more dangerous.”

NFL scouts are beginning to take note. While Allar was initially projected as a fringe Day 2 pick in early 2025 mock drafts, some analysts have begun to speculate that a strong season could catapult him into the top-15 conversation. His arm strength has never been in doubt—coaches routinely marvel at his ability to make throws that few college quarterbacks can replicate—but now that he’s complementing that with enhanced mobility and a more assertive presence, the pro buzz is starting to return.

Of course, potential alone won’t be enough. Allar will need to produce in key moments against top competition. Games against Ohio State, USC, and Washington loom large, and the Nittany Lions will need their quarterback to be sharp in every phase. But if the confidence from inside the Lasch Building is any indication, Penn State feels it has the right man under center.

“Big-time players show up in big-time games,” Losey said. “And Drew knows that. He’s preparing to answer every question anyone might have. People outside can say what they want. He’s focused on winning, leading, and putting his best product on the field. That’s all he can control. But I truly believe when this season is over, everyone’s going to see the kind of player Drew Allar is. And they’ll see he belongs at the next level.”

That belief isn’t just rooted in optimism—it’s rooted in daily evidence. Losey’s role with the program gives him a front-row seat to Allar’s progress, from the reps in the squat rack to the way he leads warmups and motivates his teammates during grueling summer conditioning sessions. It’s in those quiet, unpublicized moments that Losey sees the foundation for something special being laid.

And Allar’s mindset has shifted as well. In recent interviews, the quarterback has downplayed NFL speculation, instead focusing on bringing a championship to Penn State. “That stuff will come if I do my job,” he said during Big Ten Media Days. “Right now, it’s about helping this team reach our potential. Everything else is just noise.”

That perspective, Losey says, is exactly why Allar is primed for a breakout. “He’s not chasing the NFL. He’s chasing greatness here. And that’s the kind of player who ends up making it. He’s all in on Penn State, and that’s why we’re all in on him.”

As the 2025 season approaches, the spotlight will intensify, the questions will grow louder, and the stakes will rise. But inside Penn State’s program, they already know what they have. Chuck Losey’s message is clear: Drew Allar doesn’t need to talk about his NFL future. When the pads come on and the whistle blows, his play will speak louder than any projection or doubt ever could.