Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis sees Ben Roethlisberger-like traits in rookie quarterback Drew Allar, especially when it comes to size and arm strength. Allar stands at 6-foot-5, 228 pounds. Coming into the NFL, Roethlisberger was also 6-foot-5 but weighed in at 240 pounds.
“[Allar] is a pretty big kid,” Bettis said via an interview with Action Network’s DJ Siddiqi. “He’s definitely not as athletic as Ben was. Ben could move; he was a big, big dude, but he could move. I don’t know if he’s as athletic as Ben, but in terms of size, he’s got that size. I’m thinking of the guys in the league that are that tall. He’s got to be 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5, right. He’s up there, so I just think from the physical perspective, he’s supremely talented. He’s got a big arm. He can make all the throws, so it’s just about learning the NFL game, and I think he’s in a great position to learn behind Aaron Rodgers.”
Aaron Rodgers showed Allar the ropes during spring practices. The third-round pick will have a front row seat to the last year of Rodgers’ career.
“I’ve definitely learned a ton,” Allar told Joe Smeltzer of Steelers Now at minicamp. “Like Aaron’s done a great job of just being very open with me, answering all my questions. Pulling me aside during practices, if he sees something, and me asking him a lot of questions. He’s done a great amount of help already for me. So I’m really excited to keep learning from him. And honestly, just keep watching him play.”
Dropping back under center is one thing that Allar wants to master before the start of the season.
“It’s really just taking it a day at a time,” Allar recently told Eric Williams of FOX Sports. “They do a great job of building it out throughout practice with the quarterback in individual drills. They do a great job of emphasizing things throughout each day, just so I can get that foundation, because the footwork is a little different than what I’m used to.
“We were under center a little bit at Penn State, but not in the drop-back game. It was more run game and play-action game. So, just getting cleaner with under-center drops and drop-back footwork. And just really trying to pick up on the nuances of it. Just some different teaching, and it’s really cool to be a part of that. And kind of have another chapter to learn from and grow from. I already feel a lot more comfortable in it, and I know I’ve just got to keep my head down and keep working at it.”
Allar was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2024, leading Penn State to the College Football Playoff semifinals while passing for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Allar’s senior season was cut short due to a broken left ankle, but in six games he threw for 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
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