Todd McShay evaluates Penn State playmakers around Drew Allar

NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay evaluated the playmakers around Penn State QB Drew Allar and it’s clear PSU added talent. Of course, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen returned this year and are arguably the best one-two punch at RB in college football.

But Penn State also added three transfer wide receivers to help fill the void of now-NFL tight end Tyler Warren. Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson are all seniors and looking to make one last splash.

If the talent is as good as advertised around Allar, this could be one of the better offenses in the country. A lot hinges on Allar as Penn State looks to make a title run, so he’ll need some help.

“One trend I saw is some big time programs were desperate for playmakers on the perimeter,” McShay said on his podcast. “Penn State was like chief among them. They bought in Trebor Pena from Syracuse, 5-10, 186 not even a burner, but just a great like a really good football player. Former five star, had 84 catches last year, led the ACC and you now give Allar a weapon on the outside. They’ve got to get the receivers more involved, because they don’t have a first round tight end in Tyler Warren … 

“My point is, you have to believe that Allar is going to have to advance his game and be able to throw to receivers when they’re running away from him with accuracy and timing. And if he doesn’t, Penn State’s season is not going to be the season they wanted, and Allar is not going to get drafted where he wanted to get drafted. And I think Pena is going to be a big part of that, but you can’t deny the one two punch they got at running back.”

As McShay alluded to, Pena was a stud for Syracuse. He had 84 catches for 941 yards, nine touchdowns and 11.2 yards per catch in his fifth season.

Allar will certainly look his way, as well throw to Ross. In three years at Tulsa, he had 129 catches, 1,618 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12.5 yards per catch. And then Hudson, who came over from USC, is the expected third option.

He had most of his production in 2024, his fourth with the Trojans. In total, Hudson finished his USC career with 72 catches for 807 yards, eight touchdowns and 11.2 yards per catch.

As always, it all hinges on the quarterback and Allar has a lot on his plate. But, if the Penn State QB lives up to expectations, the Nittany Lions might be standing alone at the top come season’s end.