By Antonio Morales, Ralph Russo and Nick Baumgardner
They play the most important position in the sport and have their respective teams on the verge of competing for a national championship.
But how good are these quarterbacks?
Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Penn State’s Drew Allar are former five-star prospects who many expected to be on this stage at some point in their collegiate careers. Ohio State’s Will Howard and Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, overlooked on the recruiting trail, became national names after landing at their respective blue-blood programs in 2024.
The Athletic spoke to coaches and staffers who have faced these quarterbacks to gain some insights on what we can expect from them in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Each was offered anonymity for their honest, unfiltered assessments.
Drew Allar, Penn State
Allar, a former five-star prospect from Ohio, sat behind veteran Sean Clifford as a true freshman in 2022. His numbers were solid as a first-time starter in 2023 (2,631 yards, 25 touchdown passes, two interceptions, 59.9 completion percentage), but he and the offense struggled in high-profile matchups with Ohio State and Michigan.
First-year Nittany Lions offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki helped Allar make a leap this season. He has completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 3,192 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Notably, he has averaged nearly 2 more yards per passing attempt (8.6 from 6.8 in 2023).
“I think from last year to this year, he’s really developed his game,” a Big Ten defensive coordinator who faced Allar this season said. “He’s probably got a little bit tougher, and he stands in the pocket better, delivers the ball better. Some of the throws he’s made on third down this year, and really, if you probably take the Ohio State game out of it, where I thought he struggled, he really stepped up and made some plays on third down this year, delivering the football that I don’t think he did last year.”
Penn State’s receivers won’t be confused for an elite group, but tight end Tyler Warren is the top player in the country at that position, and the running back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton is one of the nation’s best. Kotelnicki finds creative ways to spotlight those players through shifts, motions and formations, and that no doubt helps Allar because it forces the defense to focus on those elements. Still, Allar has been the ideal point guard.
“I don’t want to call him a game manager because I don’t want to say that, but he does a great job managing the offense,” a Big Ten assistant coach said. “All the stuff at the line of scrimmage he has to do, all the moving parts, he’s done a really, really good job with all that. Especially being in Year 1 with that system.”
Allar is athletic and has displayed the ability to create off schedule even if it’s not necessarily his strength. Notre Dame will likely try to limit the other weapons and force Allar to make plays through the air.
“I’m sure Notre Dame is going to do everything in their power to try to have him win the game,” the Big Ten assistant coach said. “They have a high pressure rate, and the defensive front for Notre Dame is really good, so if they can stop the run and put the game on Allar’s plate, can he deliver?”
Drew Allar was a five-star recruit in the Class of 2022. (Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
Allar through an NFL lens
Allar has been high on NFL scouting radars for more than a year now. Entering this season, most of the league scouted Allar with an eye on him for the 2025 NFL Draft. While Allar has publicly stated he intends to return to Penn State, several teams are in “believe it when we see it” mode. He has an immense bag of high-level traits with a 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame. He can move, he can deliver off-platform and his fastball leaves a vapor trail.
This is not completely unlike last year’s J.J. McCarthy situation, though Allar has more to prove right now than McCarthy did at this point in their respective postseason runs. Like McCarthy, Allar doesn’t really have a high volume of NFL-translatable throws on tape. Allar’s catalog got much deeper this year and continues to do so in the Playoff, but remember he plays in a gimmick-heavy offense that loves to run the ball. He’s at 24.7 attempts per game, four below the national average.
One of scouts’ main preseason areas of focus on Allar was consistent ball placement. That, frankly, is probably the biggest mark in his “go back to school” column. Allar has a 14.1 percent off-target rate and still struggles with footwork consistency against pressure and from a clean pocket. His processing is also still a work in progress. However, as was the case with McCarthy, Allar puts several money throws on tape every time Penn State plays. At the very least, he could probably force Penn State to pay him more than whatever’s already been agreed upon for next year. If Allar returns, he’ll have a shot at QB1 for 2026. If he leaves now, he’s likely no worse than a second-round choice — possibly as high as a top-15 pick, depending on how testing/interviews go. — Baumgardner
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Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Leonard transferred to Notre Dame last offseason after three seasons at Duke. His passing numbers won’t wow anyone — he had 90 yards in the Fighting Irish’s Sugar Bowl win against Georgia — but he’s been a steady presence for the offense, particularly in the run game.
In three of Notre Dame’s most competitive games this season, Leonard rushed for 63 yards at Texas A&M, 50 yards and a score against USC and 80 yards against Georgia.
“He’s hard to bring down. He’s not a burner but he’s pretty damn athletic,” said an ACC personnel staffer whose program faced Notre Dame this season. “He can move around and can create more time in the pocket, which always creates a lot of problems and puts pressure on the defense, especially for the DBs. As a passer, he’s good. Not great. He kind of pushes the ball a little bit. He’s a good fit for the offense.”
Like Penn State, Notre Dame doesn’t have a dynamic group of receivers. The rushing attack, sparked by Leonard (831 rushing yards) and tailbacks Jeremiyah Love (1,076) and Jadarian Price (720), is the focal point of the offense.
The Nittany Lions have allowed just two 100-yard rushers in 15 games this season — USC’s Woody Marks and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. Expect them to try to put the game on Leonard’s arm. He hasn’t passed for more than 229 yards in a game this season, but Notre Dame hasn’t asked him to win games through the air.
“I don’t think the accuracy is great,” said a defensive coordinator who faced Leonard this season. “To me, what makes him special is the scrambling. Not even the quarterback run. Like Jalen Milroe’s quarterback run is a problem. With Riley, if they call quarterback runs, you can defend it. To me, it’s the ad-lib, scramble, Fran Tarkenton kind of stuff. You’re just like, What the hell is he doing? And then he makes a play.”
Leonard through an NFL lens
Leonard has been on NFL scouting radars since the end of his freshman season at Duke (2021) when he flashed big-time (but raw) arm talent, size and high-level athleticism. Most of the buzz Leonard received three years ago was completely projection, as scouts squinted and hoped his poor footwork and rough processing skills would improve with time. That really hasn’t happened, at least not yet, as Leonard was a run-first QB way too often for the Irish and just hasn’t made the type of consistent leaps he’d need to in order to be a top-100 pick this year.
He has put two full seasons together as a starter and has shown inconsistent accuracy throughout. His comfort in the middle of the field isn’t where it needs to be. He’s not aggressive enough on third down, and he’s been sloppy against pressure. It’s important to note, however, that Leonard missed half of 2023 with an injury and was a first-time starter in a new system this year. Physically and athletically, Leonard has all the stuff. Now he has to prove he can play quarterback with it. — Baumgardner
Will Howard, Ohio State
Howard spent four seasons at Kansas State and led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship in 2022. He completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,643 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while rushing for 351 yards and nine scores in 2023. Kansas State had highly touted Avery Johnson waiting in the wings, and Howard entered the portal to spend his final season of eligibility elsewhere. USC and Miami both showed interest, but he picked Ohio State.
Howard is surrounded by an embarrassment of riches at Ohio State, which possesses the best group of receivers in the country headlined by freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith and a productive veteran in Emeka Egbuka. Ohio State also has a two-headed monster at running back with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins.
After playing his worst game of the season in a stunning loss against Michigan, Howard has delivered his best two performances of the season against Tennessee in the first round and Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
“One thing that he’s exceptional at is if he knows what he’s seeing, he’s going to be able to carve you up because he’s going to know where to throw the ball,” said a Big 12 defensive coordinator who is familiar with Howard and watched the Rose Bowl. “He doesn’t have this ridiculously crazy arm talent, but he’s got such a good IQ and acumen for the game. If he knows what he’s seeing, he’s going to be able to throw it.”
Texas will have its hands full trying to slow down Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns defensive front could give Ohio State’s offensive line, which suffered significant injuries this season, some issues.
But it’ll be tough with Howard playing as confident as he is right now. In two Playoff games, Howard has completed 41 of 55 passes for 630 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
“He’s played a lot of football,” the Big 12 defensive coordinator said. “That’s his biggest asset to me, the amount of snaps he’s played, the different defenses he’s seen, the different looks he’s seen. There’s not a lot that’s going to catch him by surprise.
“From a talent perspective, he’d probably be in the middle of the country, but from an intangibles, football IQ, leadership, preparation, he’s as good as there is in the country.”
Howard through an NFL lens
Ohio State’s arguably the most heavily scouted football program in America, so many were curious to see how Howard would fit with Ryan Day, Chip Kelly and the arsenal of weapons this team has, especially considering Howard was probably better as a passer in 2022 at Kansas State than he was in ’23. The QB he replaced, Kyle McCord, has better NFL arm talent. In the end, though, Howard wound up playing the best ball of his career with personal bests in expected points added (EPA) per dropback, off-target rate and EPA on pressured dropbacks.
I’m not sure Howard was a lock to be drafted when the season started, and while there are still major questions about accuracy, especially on layered attempts and anything over the middle, he has improved enough to be in the Day 3 conversation this cycle. — Baumgardner
Will Howard has thrown for a combined 630 yards in Ohio State’s two CFP wins. (Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Images)
Quinn Ewers, Texas
Ewers is in a unique position. He grew up in Texas rooting for the Longhorns but signed with Ohio State as the No. 1 recruit in his class (after previously being committed to Texas). He transferred to Texas after one season at Ohio State to usher in a new era with Steve Sarkisian. He has been productive and has led Texas to a high level of team success, but he has also left some observers (and many Texas fans) wanting more. It’s particularly tough when one of the most hyped quarterback prospects in recent memory, Arch Manning, has been waiting two years for an opportunity.
Despite Ewers’ issue with consistency, opposing coaches who have faced him have come away impressed.
“I think he’s got elite arm talent. People underestimate his ability,” an SEC defensive coordinator said. “His touch, he throws the ball in the flats, it’s like handoffs. Normally, you’re like, ‘Throw it in the flat, we’ll tackle them,’ but he’s so accurate, and the ball gets out there nice that you’re like, ‘I can’t let him do that. Now those running backs have the ball in space.’”
Another SEC defensive coordinator said, “Pretty much a coach on the field. You could see that from the outside looking in. He’s got a really good understanding of what coach Sarkisian wants. More of a pocket passer than the Manning kid. To be honest, man, we were a little more concerned about seeing Manning because he can beat you with his legs as well as throw the ball, but Quinn did a phenomenal job, man. Can make any throw and just a coach on the field. A really good general for the offense Sark has put together.”
Texas has a strong offensive line. The receivers are talented as well. And of course, having Sarkisian scheme up the offense is beneficial to any quarterback.
“I don’t think Sark asks him to make every throw on the field or difficult throws,” the second SEC defensive coordinator said. “I think the scheme allows for easy-access throws. He has one of the best screen games that I’ve ever faced in college football. You know, some of the fakes that come off the screens lead to easy access throws. He doesn’t ask him to make the hard throws that some quarterbacks can’t make even though he can make them. He just simplifies the game for his quarterback, and because of that it puts him in position for a high success rate.”
Texas scored 38 points against Clemson in its first-round game and 39 against Arizona State in a double-overtime Peach Bowl win. Georgia has done the best job of disrupting Texas’ offense and stifling Ewers this season.
That was a product of the Bulldogs’ pass rush making life difficult on Ewers. How Texas holds up against an Ohio State defense that has registered 12 sacks over the past two games will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.
“I think it’s pressure,” the first SEC defensive coordinator said about how to affect Ewers. “I think it’s post-snap changing the looks. I think having a multiple attack. I think if you go in the game and say, ‘We’re just going to do this, we’re just going to do that.’ I think once he settles in on you, it’s trouble. And I think Georgia did the best job against him the first time (pressuring with four men). This sounds really generic, but I don’t think you just go and say, ‘We’re going to play three-deep, we’re going to play man, we’re going to play Cover 4.’ I think you have to play all of it and mix it up and not let him get comfortable. Because I feel like if his feet are set, he knows where to throw it, he throws it in really good spots.”
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Ewers through an NFL lens
Casual observers might claim Ewers has the easiest job in college football with all the weapons Texas has to go along with Sarkisian’s creativity. What NFL scouts appreciate about Ewers, though, is the fact the sword cuts both ways. The pressure on Ewers to direct traffic, feed all his receivers and generally make Sark’s offense sing — at friggin’ Texas, with a Manning behind you — is as intense as it gets. And while there are plenty of concerns here, Ewers has absolutely displayed the type of poise, toughness and resolve most teams see as non-negotiables for starting quarterbacks.
Even with this year’s ups and downs, many scouts are higher on Ewers than some might think, and that’s because his arm talent has always been terrific. His ability to put the ball just about anywhere from awkward angles is as good as any player in this class. In fact, sometimes it’s too good, as Ewers still has trouble with general fundamentals, which lead to missed layups. He’s athletic enough in the pocket if he’s playing behind a good offensive line, but he’s going to have issues with pressure in the NFL. The 2024 season has been Ewers’ worst to date in terms of accuracy (11.6 percent off-target), and his fundamental lapses are most glaring when he’s under pressure. Ewers had first-round buzz when the season started. Many still feel he’s a Day 2 quarterback with starting potential, given the polarizing group of QBs in this class. — Baumgardner
(Top illustration: Will Tullos for The Athletic; Photos: Robin Alam, Michael Reaves, CFP, Ben Jackson / Getty Images)
