Hour 3 - Drew Allar

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3: Drew Allar Release Date: July 23, 2025

In this engaging episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd delves deep into the latest developments in college football, the NFL off-season moves, and conducts an insightful interview with Penn State’s standout quarterback, Drew Allar. The episode is structured into several key sections, each unpacking pivotal moments and expert analyses that are essential for sports enthusiasts.

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1. NFL Off-Season Moves Analysis

Timestamp: 11:06 – 15:53

Colin begins by discussing ESPN's recent ranking of the top 50 NFL off-season moves, highlighting surprising entries and discussing their potential impacts on the teams involved.

• ESPN’s Top Picks:

  • Devonte Adams to the Rams: Ranked as the top move, Colin expresses agreement with ESPN’s assessment, emphasizing Adams' game-changing capabilities as a deep threat receiver. "Devonte is gonna get a lot of open looks...he just made a lot of guys look bad," Colin remarks at [12:39].
  • Cam Ward to the Titans: Colin suggests that Ward might deserve an even higher ranking due to his potential to alter game outcomes significantly. "I would put number one if he's as good as I think because he will change outcomes," he states at [12:39].
  • Joe Tuni to the Bears: Tagged as a mild surprise but a strategic acquisition, Colin notes, "That's a good pickup," at [12:39].
  • Genti to the Raiders: Colin analyzes the Raiders' schedule and prospects with their new running back, Ashton Genty, comparing his style to legends like Barry Sanders. "He reminds me of a running back like Barry Sanders...you need two guys to bring him down," he comments at [14:16].

• Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers: Ranked 19th, Colin expresses skepticism about Rodgers’ drop in ranking. "He's a quarterback. He is going 60 snaps a game...you get to be 40 plus, you're not the same player," he explains at [12:39].

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2. Team Performance Insights

Timestamp: 15:53 – 22:40

The conversation shifts to analyzing team defenses and their influence on offensive performances, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

• Steelers' Defensive Strength: Colin emphasizes the importance of a robust defense in supporting a team’s offense. "Having a great defense, I mean, I mean when Kansas City got off of Tyree Kill, their defense got better," he observes at [04:57].

• Future Prospects: Discussing the Steelers' future, Colin speculates on potential rebuilds and leadership questions surrounding Coach Mike Tomlin. "Whether it happens in 2026 or 2027, there's a reset slash rebuild," he asserts at [05:01].

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3. Interview with Drew Allar, Penn State Quarterback

Timestamp: 21:06 – 29:56

The highlight of the episode is an in-depth interview with Drew Allar, Penn State’s promising quarterback, who shares insights into his development, team dynamics, and future aspirations.

• Improvement Over the Years:

  • Athletic and Technical Enhancements: Drew discusses his commitment to improving his physical fitness and technical skills. "I dropped like 10 pounds going into last year and that helped a lot," he shares at [21:49].
  • Experience and Process: Emphasizing the importance of experience, Drew credits Penn State’s training staff and his dedication to the team’s process. "It's always about the process rather than the destination," he states at [21:49].

• Team Dynamics and Changes:

  • Adapting to Team Roster Changes: With the departure of key players like Tyler Warren, Drew expresses optimism about new additions and the depth of the team. "We have a lot of young potential in that tight end room," he mentions at [23:06].

• Handling Fame and Expectations:

  • Balancing Athletics and Studies: Drew reflects on the challenges of being recognized in a passionate college town like State College. "I'm definitely not like the extrovert... I kind of like sticking to my close group of friends," he explains at [26:38].

• Strengths and Playing Style:

  • Versatile Throwing Ability: Drew highlights his ability to execute various throws under pressure, drawing parallels to NFL stars like Patrick Mahomes. "I can make any throw on the field against any coverage," he proudly states at [27:45].

• Motivation and Rivalries:

  • Focus on Performance Over Opponents: When asked about rivalries, Drew emphasizes his dedication to the game itself rather than specific teams. "I'm not gonna give a cliche answer, but it's all about playing football," he asserts at [29:12].

• Future Aspirations:

  • Aiming for the NFL: Drew speaks about his dreams of entering the NFL and proving himself as a leader and effective quarterback. "I'm really excited to really just spot the ball and play football again," he concludes at [29:56].

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4. Comparisons with Other Quarterbacks and Future Projections

Timestamp: 29:56 – 35:20

Colin draws comparisons between Drew Allar and other notable quarterbacks, discussing their unique journeys and skill sets.

• Similarities with Josh Allen and Peyton Manning: Colin points out the parallels in size, arm strength, and humble beginnings. "Their size, both good arms, both big, both small towns, both bumpy journeys," he remarks at [29:56].

• Draft Prospects and Expectations: Colin expresses enthusiasm for the upcoming NFL draft, anticipating Drew’s selection alongside Arch Manning. "It's going to be a fascinating year," he predicts at [29:56].

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5. Additional Insights and Closing Thoughts

Timestamp: 35:20 – End

The episode wraps up with Colin sharing his excitement for the evolving draft prospects and the potential impact of new quarterbacks entering the league.

• Excitement for Next Year’s Draft: Colin is particularly optimistic about Drew Allar and Arch Manning, viewing them as key figures in revitalizing the draft’s quarterback landscape. "I kept saying it wasn't a great draft. There was one quarterback of note...I'm already jacked up for next year's draft," he enthuses at [30:59].

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Notable Quotes:

• "Devonte is gonna get a lot of open looks...he just made a lot of guys look bad." — Colin Cowherd [12:39]
• "I can make any throw on the field against any coverage." — Drew Allar [27:45]
• "It's always about the process rather than the destination." — Drew Allar [21:49]
• "We have a lot of young potential in that tight end room." — Drew Allar [23:06]
• "I'm really excited to really just spot the ball and play football again." — Drew Allar [29:56]

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd offers a comprehensive look into the strategic moves shaping the NFL off-season, coupled with an inspiring conversation with one of college football’s rising stars, Drew Allar. Whether you're a die-hard fan keeping track of draft prospects or someone interested in the intricacies of team dynamics and player development, this episode provides valuable insights and engaging discussions that highlight the ever-evolving landscape of American football.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Jay Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jay Mac]

United by passion podcasts that amplify the.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jay Mac]

Just open the free iHeart app and.

[Bob Crawford]

Search iHeart Women's Sports to listen Now.

[Danielle Roubais]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Colin Cowherd]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree?

[Jay Mac]

Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Danielle Roubais]

And I find the answers. I'm so glad you asked me this question.

[Jay Mac]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Danielle Roubais]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Jay Mac]

I knew I wanted to obey and submit, but I didn't fully grasp for the rest of my life what that meant for my heart. Podcasts and Rococo Punch this is the Turning River Road. In the woods of Minnesota, a cult leader married himself to 10 girls and forced them into a secret life of abuse. But in 2014, the youngest escaped. Listen to the Turning river road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local Station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. I thought it was interesting. George Pickens, who is super talented in Pittsburgh, but he's, he's now a Dallas Cowboy and he had a comment yesterday. Listen to the, you know, of the three head coaches he's had in his life, he conspicuously leaves one out when he's talking about the new Cowboy gig.

[Bob Crawford]

He's probably one of the best coaches.

[Colin Cowherd]

I've ever had around, definitely.

[Danielle Roubais]

Besides like Kirby Smart and a lot of other legend coaches that I played for. But his energy, like you said, his.

[Colin Cowherd]

Energy is like one of one.

[Danielle Roubais]

I think I needed a fresh start just in terms of, like you said.

[Bob Crawford]

People not knowing me.

[Danielle Roubais]

Yeah, I'm definitely excited to run better plays, for sure.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. And, and I said this, like when you consider how good the overall roster is and how good their defense is and a great defense, we all know this helps an offense, like, we all know that. Right. Gives you better field position. You can open up the playbook. You don't have to get in shootouts and put your quarterback in bad spots. Having a great defense, I mean, I mean when Kansas City got off of Tyree Kill, their defense got better. And the defense, they didn't have to have great offensive firepower to get to Super Bowls. So a defense helps an offense a lot. And so it's kind of remarkable that the Steelers with their good defense, their offense is bottom of the league. Can you imagine if their defense was bad? So they're kind of a one sided franchise. And I asked Albert Breer, who's at Vikings camp, what if this thing, I mean quarterback right now for this team, Aaron Rodgers, you know, they're all loading up on Darius Slay and Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey. What if it goes sideways? Is Mike Tomlin in trouble?

[Danielle Roubais]

I don't think he's going to get fired.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, and I think everybody understands.

[Danielle Roubais]

What the, what the score is there.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is one last run, maybe two.

[Danielle Roubais]

Last runs with the core that they've built around guys like TJ Watt and Cam Hayward.

[Colin Cowherd]

And let's see if we can get.

[Danielle Roubais]

Past the point where a 9 and 9 or 10 win team sneaking into the playoffs and then losing our first playoff game.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think whether it happens in 2026 or 2027, there's a reset slash rebuild.

[Danielle Roubais]

Coming and One of the operative questions on that when you're looking at it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is having a coach who's been there.

[Danielle Roubais]

For almost two decades, does he still.

[Colin Cowherd]

Want to be here? Do we still want him here? Yeah. The questions I think that have to be asked, I think they're going to be about a.500 team. Nine, eight, eight, nine. And that's good enough, right for Pittsburgh now. But it's AFC, man. You start looking at the quarterbacks. We got about eight good ones all in their prime. And the Steelers is in his 40s. There was a stat this week on the show or last week, late quarterbacks 40 years of age or older have won only 12 playoff games. Brady's got 10 of the 12 wins. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, we're Covino and Rich, Fox Sports radio every day, 5 to 7pm Eastern. But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two hour show. We never get to everything honestly, because this guy is over promising things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubber lips blaming me. Well, you know what it's called? Over Promise. You should be good at it because you've been over promising women for years. Well, it's a Covino and Rich after show and we want you to be a part of it. We're gonna be talking sports, of course we're. But we're also gonna talk life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called Over Promised. Well, if you don't get enough Covino and Rich, make sure you check out Over Promised and also uncensored, by the way, so maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's gonna be the best after show podcast of all time. There you go, Overpromising. And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely. Join us. Listen to Over Promised with Covino and rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jay Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Hey everybody. You've heard me talk about Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the herd podcast, and if you know anything about me, I love a good metaphor. So the team at Green river challenged me to come up with a perfect metaphor to describe their incredible bourbon and rye whiskeys. And with the playoffs upon us, the answer is clear. Green River Whiskey is like a big playoff win by your favorite team, always sure to raise your spirits. So pair the thrills of this playoff season with Green River Whiskey. And with four core products in their starting lineup, there's something to suit any taste. To find Green river near you, head on over to greenriverwhiskey.com here's the green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com, please drink responsibly.

[Jay Mac]

For my heart Podcasts and Rococo Punch this is the Turning River Road. I knew I wanted to obey and submit, but I didn't fully grasp for the rest of my life what that meant. In the woods of Minnesota, a cult leader married himself to 10 girls and forced them into a secret life of abuse. Why did I think that way? Why did I allow myself to get so sucked in by this man and thinking to the point that if I died for him, that would be the greatest honor? But in 2014, the youngest of the girls escaped and sparked an international manhunt. For all those years, you know, he was the predator and I was the prey. And then he became the prey. Listen to the Turning river road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just like great shoes, great books take you places through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies.

[Jay Mac]

I'm Danielle Roubais and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from hello Sunshine and I Heart Podcast. Every week I sit down with your favorite book lovers, authors, celebrities, book talkers and more to explore the stories that shape us on the page and off. I've been reading every Reese's Book Club pick, deep diving book talk theories and obsessing over book to screen casts for years. And now I get to talk to the people making the magic. So if you've ever fallen in love with a fictional character or cried at the last chapter or passed a book to a friend saying you have to read this, this podcast is for you. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

J. Mac with the news no, no, no, no.

[Bob Crawford]

Heard on the news.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is the hardline news.

[Bob Crawford]

All right, Colin, you'll Love this. So ESPN ranked the top 50 NFL off season moves. Obviously everybody could guess the first one. The Rams landing Devonte AD1. Number two Titans drafted Cam Ward. Not a huge surprise there. Number three, mild surprise. The Bears acquired Joe Tuni. That's a good pickup. With the third best. I was a little surprised. And then you go the Raiders drafting Genti. I don't know if I agree. And then the Commanders acquiring Laramy Tunsil. But we wanted to focus for a second on Aaron Rodgers going to the Steelers. That was graded out as the 19th most important off season move. 19. What does that say about how far Rogers has fallen?

[Colin Cowherd]

Colin well, first of all, I think Cam Ward of the Titans, I'd put number one if he's as good as I think because he will change outcomes. Devonte Adams is really good, but he's not touching the ball. Puka Naku is on the other side. Kyron Williams. So he, he may have like eight targets a game and seven catches, but I, I do think ESPN got it right. I agree with all five of those. Maybe a little different order. Yeah, I don't, I don't have any problem with any of those. I, I would probably put Aaron higher than 19th. He's probably closer to 10 or 12. He is a quarterback. He is going 60 snaps a game. But I think we all know this and I don't think it's a shot is you get to be 40 plus, you're not the same player. You're just not the same level of player.

[Bob Crawford]

Well, I guess one of the big pushbacks is you know Devonte Adams doesn't just catch passes. You have to focus on him as a deep threat on the slants. He will make you change your defense because last year Cooper cup, he didn't totally do that. I think people noticed by the second half of the season it just wasn't there for cup. The injuries kind of getting old. I think Adams totally changes the calculus. This is a run first offense with Kyren Williams, right. And Devonte is gonna, he's gonna get a lot of open looks. But yeah, overall I think we largely.

[Colin Cowherd]

Agree if Ashton Genty for the Raiders is as good as I think most people think and I, I mean let's face it, if you're a running back and you come out of Boise State, there's a lot of critics who say you didn't play anybody. But if you go to his games against like Oregon, he made a lot of guys look bad. If he's as good as I think he's going to be with the upgrade Pete Carroll, Chip Kelly and I like Geno Smith. I think Geno and Sam Darnold are very similar players. Kind of bombed early, got the right staff reboot. Both are athletes with size. If you pressure both, they make mistakes. They can get a little reckless but they're very bish solid quarterbacks. I'm going to tell you something. The Raiders are going to beat Kansas City, the Chargers in Denver, they're gonna, they're going to beat those teams at least I feel like they're going to knock off all those guys. I think the Raiders have a chance to split every series in their division and finish fourth. What's their schedule look like?

[Bob Crawford]

But how about this? Raiders division wins over under two and a half.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I go under because that means they do split with like a Denver and Kansas. I would go under on two and a half.

[Bob Crawford]

Do you think they'll go two and four?

[Colin Cowherd]

One and a half. I would go over. Oh, interesting. I mean Ashton Genty create forced 152 missed tackles. That was 49 now the schedule is easier. Yeah, but that's 49 more than any other running back. He also had 260 more rushing yards after contact than any other player had total rushing yards. So I think the one when I watched his video, I just think this kid's gonna be special. The one thing about him that was very notice I watched him play three times. A lot of highlight three times. He is so small and so strong that you can't get under him. He reminds me of a running back. He's a combination of Robert Newhouse who played for the Cowboys running back years ago.

[Bob Crawford]

Very, he was a very good modern reference.

[Colin Cowherd]

Robert Newhouse sounds like an author, I would say. Robert Newhouse and Barry Sanders. Oh, I think he has Barry Sanders shiftiness. Newhouse's strength that you can't, you can't get leverage on him. So like, forget it for as a corner or a safety, you're not bringing him down by yourself. You need two guys to bring him down because you can't get pad leverage on him. So if you look at the Raiders schedule, I'll be honest, it's, it's kind of, I mean, let's be honest. I get the Titans, the Colts and the, and the Patriots early. That's, that's you're easing your way and you get your buy in Week eight, then the Jags.

[Bob Crawford]

How about this though? You got a lot of travel from Vegas to New England to Washington. You gotta face Patrick Mahomes early and you got Denver on the back end twice. I, I don't like that at all. Anyways, let's move on to the next one. Colin. And that's the commanders. Remember they got Von Miller last week. He's so fired up. He had options. Von Miller, of course, a great edge rusher going to the hall of Fame for sure. But the reason he picked D.C. largely was Jaden Daniels. Here's his quote. You can't leave Josh Allen and just go anywhere. Vaughn Miller said. You can't leave your old girlfriend and just go with anybody. Like Josh Allen was MVP of the league last year. I feel like Jaden Daniels has MVP potential as well. That's a great quote from Bob Miller. I like that.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, we, we talk about this. When you go from college, what is your strength? And in year one or two, does your strength in college work in the pros? For instance, Johnny Man Manziel ran around in college, but he wasn't athletic enough to do that in the pro. So you could tell very early, oh, it's not going to work because he wasn't a big strong guy with a huge arm. So I could tell very early with Johnny Manziel, two starts. Same with Tebow. You can't. They're not athletic enough to run around like they did in college. What's interesting about Jaden Daniels, his number one strength in college wasn't his running around, it was his fourth quarter quarterback play at LSU in Arizona State and his playing from behind stats, they were unbelievable. That's exactly what he did in the NFL. That's where you know you have a star. Same with Andrew Luck. His toughness and his ability to do pre snap greatness you saw instantly with Andrew Luck. Two starts. Oh, tougher than a $7 stake. And he can pre snap. He's a wizard. So that's what I look for. So Caleb Williams ran around a lot in college and was successful, but last year was Chicago running around. He got sacked 68 times. So his strength did not, it did not work in the NFL. So that's why Caleb's got some things to clean up quickly.

[Bob Crawford]

Yeah. All right, the final story. Colin. Now I mentioned the Miami Dolphins earlier and you know, Tyreek Hill's back. Remember how he ended the season? He's like, I'm out, Deuces.

[Colin Cowherd]

See ya.

[Bob Crawford]

It's getting interesting. We just have audio here that just arrived recently. Tua is now answering questions about his relationship with Tyreek Hill. Now just remember Tyreek basically suggested, I'm out. I don't want to do this anymore with these guys. This is what Tua said this week, but for everybody.

[Danielle Roubais]

But everyone knows what he can do on the field. Everyone respects what he can do on the field.

[Bob Crawford]

But I think, you know, he's, he's.

[Danielle Roubais]

Still trying to figure things out for himself as well.

[Colin Cowherd]

Kind of the man he wants to be.

[Danielle Roubais]

And you know, he's not too young. Like everybody makes mistakes. It's just some people, you know, they, they're in the spotlight, you know, and they're, their deals get, get pushed out more than, than some others.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's be totally honest. Tua's mature. Tyreek Hill is immature. That's as clean and clear as you can say it. One guy is an adult. He may not be a superstar talent, but he makes grown up decisions. He's committed. And Tyreek Hill is still a kid.

[Bob Crawford]

Let me read the quote. Yeah, yeah. It's our relationship. It's still a work in progress, not just for me, but for everybody. He's talking to the media about Tyreek Hill, a volatile receiver. We know off the, off the field he's got a lot of legal issues and several baby mamas and kids all around. Like, he's got a lot going on. And now for in the locker room, people to be like, hey man, you got to repair this stuff.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'll.

[Bob Crawford]

I don't like those vibes. I would not be shocked if Tyree Kill were shipped at the deadline. If Miami's not not doing well.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised at all. I, I never bought into he's going to Make Miami a Super bowl contender because the bottom line, January is cold. Miami's got a quarterback who is not a big arm quarterback. The deep ball. Randy Moss did not win a Super bowl with the Patriots. The deep ball is really effective until about November 1, and then the league changes and gets much more physical. So Tua's not a big arm quarterback. Tyreek's a deep threat. He would make great highlights. He would be fun. But Kansas City would not have moved off Calvin Johnson. Kansas City would not have moved off Larry Fitzgerald. Part of Tyreek is that you have to. You're inheriting a lot of stuff that could be distracting team.

[Bob Crawford]

That makes sense. Perhaps strong coach and strong quarterback. Washington with Dan Quinn and Jaden Daniels.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I've already got McLaren and Debo. Deebo's enough of a listen.

[Bob Crawford]

What's going on with McLaren? Debo's hurt a lot. I'm just saying Washington's close, man. They have a loaded roster.

[Colin Cowherd]

Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the Herd lie news. Well, I've said it multiple times. I have Penn State winning the Big Ten. I have Penn State playing for the national championship. And I think the top two draft picks are going to be, in no particular order, Drew Aller and Arch Manning. And Drew's nice enough to join us. Drew, it's great seeing. I appreciate you doing this. You're a busy guy. You're doing interviews and I appreciate it. And I really. I know you're busy. I want to start with this. So I watched you two years ago and I said it's good, but I don't know. I don't know. Then I watched you last year. You were more athletic, you were more accurate. So you tell me, what was the difference for you between last year and the year before? Where did you think you improved?

[Danielle Roubais]

Yeah, I mean, I think where I improved the most was, like you said, athletically. I think I. We have the best training staff in the country at Penn State and that's headed by Coach Losey. He did a phenomenal job with me going into that off season. I met with him and Coach Franklin, Danny and Coach K. Trying to figure out like where I wanted to play at weight wise. So I dropped like 10 pounds going into the last year and that helped a lot. That helped the style of offense we wanted to play. And also I think just another year playing quarterback in the Big Ten. Like, I'm pretty young when it comes to playing quarterback. I've only been starting for five and a half years or something like that. So I feel like with the more experience I gain, the better I'm getting. And I think that's kind of a testament to my whole process and really how we, how we operate at Penn State. It's always about the process. Obviously we want the end results, but it's really about the more the process than the destination at some point.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I watched the game last year you completed 17 passes to Tyler Warren against USC. It was an injury, incredible performance. Do you worry a little bit? You have lost your number one target. And as a quarterback, he was just a big strong guy. You could throw it in the flat, you could throw it in the seam, you could do it, throw it downfield. Are you having to kind of retrain yourself when you look down the field because he's not around anymore?

[Danielle Roubais]

No, not necessarily. But I mean, I'm super happy for Tyler that he ended up in Indianapolis. I mean, he deserves everything that he's earned up into his career at this point. He's going to be a phenomenal player and play a long time in the NFL just because of the type of guy he is, the type of teammate he is. Obviously phenomenal player, but even better teammate to have in your organization. But as far as like other weapons we have on our team, we did a lot of adding to our team this year. Obviously we have the three transfers that we brought in, but we still have a lot of young guys that are going to take that next step this year. We have a lot of young potential in that tight end room. Khalil Dinkins was one of the most undervalued players, especially on our team. But I think of all the country last year, the stuff he did on a weekly basis, blocking DNS and doing all the dirty work so Ty could get open down the field, it doesn't go unnoticed in our room. So I'm really excited for this year and this opportunity that we have and being in our same system as we were last year with Coach K being back another year. So I'm really excited. I think we have a lot of potential and a lot of weapons to throw to this year.

[Colin Cowherd]

So one of the reasons I like you, Cam Ward, who went number one this year, was a zero star recruit. People overlooked him. Josh Allen's father had to send out tapes. No Division 1 offers. Aaron Rodgers went to junior college. The truth is Peyton Manning is an outlier. Where he's a great high schooler, great college number, that's an outlier. Most guys that quarterback in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes, had a losing college record. So I love your journey. When is the first time in your journey, go back to high school, that you thought, because you're obviously you're going to get drafted in the NFL. When was the first time, Drew, that you played? Could have been a practice, could have been a game. When you're. When you're sitting there in your dorm room and you're like, you know, I may be a pro football player.

[Danielle Roubais]

Yeah. I mean, that's kind of crazy to reflect on. I've talked to my parents a ton about it just because of how late I started playing quarterback. I didn't start playing quarterback till really my freshman year of high school. So I was really new to all that. Went through a lot of transitions in terms of throwing motion and all that sort of stuff off the field with that. But, yeah, I mean, I think the first time I really realized it was when I honestly started playing football here at Penn State, like being the starting quarterback. I think that's when it kind of really set in. Because obviously that's always been a dream of mine to have that opportunity to hear my name called. And obviously I'm working towards it every day. But, I mean, I'm looking forward to when that time comes. But for me, the biggest thing is going out with the season and competing week in and week out, enjoying every moment that I have left at Penn State, because, I mean, time has definitely flown by. I can't believe I'm already in my senior year. It feels like I just stepped on campus yesterday. So I'm really excited for this season to go out and prove the type of player I am, the type of leader and teammate that I am, because I've been putting a lot of work this off season with a lot of guys on the team, and I'm really excited to really just spot the ball and play football again.

[Colin Cowherd]

So, obviously, Arch Manning, you know, there's a bunch of Mannings that played football. Everybody knows him. You could be the best college quarterback, but we didn't really know you much until about a year ago. So I am interested when you're a college quarterback. I can't relate to this. At a big college football power, do you have to do selfies on campus? I mean, is it. What is it like to be you outside of the football games, to be a college student? If I could ask.

[Danielle Roubais]

Yeah, it's definitely crazy, especially in a place like Penn State where we have such a passionate fan base and obviously it's a college town. So whenever you're out in Town, doing whatever, getting food with teammates and that sort of thing. Like, you're going to be recognized. So there's a lot that comes with the territory, and I've kind of grown to kind of adapt to that and just embrace it because I'm definitely not like, the extrovert in terms of that sort of thing. Like, I kind of like sticking to my close group of friends and that sort of thing, being to myself and really minding my own business. But it was definitely a culture shock, I would say, because, I mean, I come from a relatively small town in Medina, but, like, it's nothing like State College with the football and that sort of thing. Like, I've had plenty of conversations with Coach Franklin and his family on how to handle that. So it's definitely something that just comes with the territory and I think something I've handled better each year that I've been a starting quarterback.

[Colin Cowherd]

What is your favorite part, Drew, of your game? Like, when you watch. I'm watching highlights. You made a throw against Oregon that was insane. But is there something. If you're a humble kid, but is there something about your game you're like, yeah, I think I'm pretty good at this.

[Danielle Roubais]

Yeah. I mean, I think the thing I'm most excited about my game is I know I can make any throw on the field against any coverage and that sort of thing. Like, I could throw it sideline to sideline if I need to, as far as I need to downfield. So I think just, you know, that ability that I've been blessed with and just trying to take advantage of all of that and really fine tuning it so I can pull it out of my bag whenever I need it in terms of, you know, just ramping up my accuracy when I need to be more accurate in times throughout games and throughout the season. So I think the ability that I've been. I've been blessed with, to make really any throw on the field from any different platform that I'm able to. I think that's my favorite part about my game because I've seen guys like you mentioned earlier, Mahomes and Josh Allen and really all the NFL quarterbacks be able to do stuff like that. And something that, you know, I take pride in and I definitely work on, but now it's just about, you know, working on it and also being accurate with it and just pulling it out at the right times.

[Colin Cowherd]

Finally. The Big Ten's got great rivalries. Everybody knows about Michigan, Ohio State. Is there a game for you? When you look at the schedule, or last year or this year? Year, obviously Penn State and Pitt. But is there a Big Ten team? I mean, you play Oregon, Northwestern, your Ohio State, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers. Who do you view when you look at that schedule? Who gets you amped up? Who do you get fired up about just thinking about, yeah, I'm not gonna.

[Danielle Roubais]

I'm not. I'm gonna give a very cliche answer, but, like, for me, it's all about playing football. I don't care who we're playing or where we're playing. Just the opportunity to put on the Penn State blue and white and really strap our helmet out and play for Coach Franklin and all the coaches that we have on staff. Whenever I get that opportunity, I'm not taking it for granted. Obviously, like you said, we have a lot of tough Big Ten opponents this year, and I'm really looking forward to all of them because they're all going to be very challenging. We have a very deep conference in terms of talent and just coaching staffs across the Big Ten. So I'm really excited for every opportunity that we have to play in this fall.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, you're a good kid. Your mom and dad have done a great job. You just keep getting better and better. And we wish you the very best of luck for the Nittany Lions.

[Danielle Roubais]

Well, thank you. I really appreciate it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Drew Aller, who is. I think he and Arch Manning, nuss Meyer at lsu, Kate Clubnik at Clemson's, obviously very good. It's gonna be a fascinating year. It is a very. Potentially. And all those guys were productive last year, but it. There's a little bit, maybe not stylistically, there's a little bit of Josh Allen in Drew Aller. Small school, nobody paid attention. Relatively unknown, you know, gets one or two offers, accuracy issues, really good kid, committed. Now, Josh is more athletic in terms of jumping over people. He wears the Superman cape. But they're like their games. When you watch them play, there's a little bit of a similarity. Their size, both good arms, both big, both small towns, both bumpy journeys. Didn't know much about him until, like, their second year, third year in college. So interesting. Really, really good kid. I. You can tell, like, this year's draft, I kept saying it wasn't a great draft. There was one quarterback of note. I'm already jacked up for next year's draft. All right, back in a second in Chicago, it's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Jay Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Hey everybody. You've heard me talk about Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the herd podcast. And if you know anything about me, I love a good metaphor. So the team at Green river challenged me to come up with a perfect metaphor to describe their incredible bourbon and rye whiskeys. And with the playoffs upon us, the answer is clear. Green River Whiskey is like a big playoff win by your favorite team, always sure to raise your spirits. So pair the thrills of this playoff season with Green River Whiskey. And with four core products in their starting lineup, there's something to suit any taste. To find Green river near you, head on over to greenriverwhisky.com here's the green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com, please drink responsibly.

[Jay Mac]

For my heart podcasts and Rococo Punch. This is the turning River Road. I knew I wanted to obey and submit, but I didn't fully grasp for the rest of my life what that meant. In the woods of Minnesota, a cult leader married himself to 10 girls and forced them into a secret life of abuse. Why did I think that way? Why did I allow myself to get so sucked in by this man and and thinking to the point that if I died for him, that would be the greatest honor. But in 2014, the youngest of the girls escaped and sparked an international manhunt. For all those years, you know, he was the predator and I was the prey. And then he became the prey. Listen to the Turning river road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Just like great shoes, great books take you places through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies.

[Jay Mac]

I'm Danielle Roubais and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from hello Sunshine and I Heart Podcasts. Every week I sit down with your favorite book lovers, authors, celebrities, book talkers and more to explore explore the stories that shape us on the page and off. I've been reading every Reese's Book Club pick, deep diving booktok theories and obsessing over book to screen casts for years and now I get to talk to the people making the magic. So if you've ever fallen in love with a fictional character or cried at the last chapter or passed a book to a friend saying you have to read this, this podcast is for you. Listen to bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Tomorrow. Lincoln Riley on the show. A lot of pressure on him. I'm watching some other reasonably notable talking heads talking about Lincoln Riley is. I think it's fair. Lincoln riley inherited Bob Stu's momentum and program and won 11 games a year. And there's no question he can coach. That's not the question. I've, I've watched every USC game of note over the last three years. He can coach, but the question is can you build a program that's different? That's a different, you know, that's the difference between being a good podcaster and, and building a podcast empire. Those are two different asks. So I know Lincoln Roddicken coach and I know he can recruit. But there is so much in developing a program. It is relationships, the staff you hire, developing players, recruiting players, you know, building a staff. Saban was unbelievable. Saban would lose an offensive coordinator. He just kept, I mean Jim McElwain, Dennuss Meyer, Jasar Deciffin, Bill O'. Brien. He just kept nailing the other side of the ball. So Lincoln can coach. The game plans are smart, his quarterbacks all work. The question becomes wow. And I, and I worry about it because I looked at the all first team Big Ten selections. Indiana had four, Iowa had four, USC had none. Now I do think they have three or four really good players that could make first team after the season. But those are, those are all fair questions about Lincoln running. Can he build his own program now in fairness. He won 11 games and a lot of big games at Oklahoma. So it's not like he took over for Bob stoops and won 11, 10, 9, 8. They were really, really good. I was bringing him on the show because he was so innovative offensively. All his quarterbacks became great transfer guys, guys in the program. And he also took over a mess at usc. I had somebody inside the program, not Lincoln Riley, tell me when they took it over, they felt they had 35 to 37 USC players. Over half the roster shouldn't have been at USC. It was a big lift. It was a. It wasn't a moderate lift. It was a big, big lift. And so, by the way, it feels like kind of the lift Dabo Sweeney had to make when he got to Clemson. They weren't very good. It took Dabo three full recruiting classes. Now the critics of Lincoln Rodney could say, well, he has the nil. That's fair. I said before he can coach, can he build his own program? Shovel in the ground? Four years later, they're a major playoff team. We'll see. I think they're about an eight or nine win team. A lot depends on the quarterback play. They finally have an offensive line that I like with like NFL bodies. So we'll see. So it's. We talked about this earlier today. I think Jaden Daniels is remarkable. He's the best rookie quarterback I've ever seen. That includes John Elway. I don't remember much about his rookie season. I remember more about the middle and end of his career. But he's the best rookie I've ever seen. Better than Andrew Locke and John Elway, who are both really good, really smart, really athletic, but made a lot of mistakes and threw a lot of picks. He doesn't do any of that. Part of the reason that Jaden Daniels has worked so successfully, he gets rid of the ball quickly. In fact, last year he get. He got rid of the ball second quickest in the league. And that's for a guy that could tuck it and run. That is discipline. That is cognitive ability. That kid could take off and run. He's like, no, I'm gonna get rid of the ball. So you're talking about a kid that is functioning above the shoulders. And this was what Mahomes does. Mahomes could take off and run every play. He does it about three times a game. So you're. Jaden's a guy that is just different. He is different with his legs, his arm and upstairs. I mean, he is functioning at a level upstairs that Just veterans don't do second quickest release. That is something for a rookie. That means he can see it and let go of it. And by the way, there's a lot of guys as rookies that can't even see it. They can't see the openings. He sees it and lets it rip. So. And it's funny because I was watching a podcast called Pivot. Bill Belichick was on it and he was talking about Brady and of all the great things Brady did. It's the two things last year that Jaden Daniels has already figured out. As a quarterback, we all know worst situation you can be in is long yardage. And so as long as the ball moves forward, you stay out of long yardage. And Tom did such a great job of not allowing negative plays to happen to our offense. Number two, as I've told Tom many times, Tom, we can't gain any yard until you get rid of the ball. Then of course he made, you know, great decisions under pressure and had a tremendous ability to see the field and understand situational football and make quick decisions under pressure. But isn't it interesting, the first two things he mentions are no pre snap penalties. We always went forward and we asked the goat to let, let go of the ball quickly, not to hold it. So again, Jaden Daniels, get that thing out of your hands. That's where Caleb Williams has to improve. I don't care about his total yards and his touchdowns. I don't care. Let go of the ball. He holds the ball. Some of that is hero ball. I want to make a play. Don't. It doesn't work. You can do a little bit of that. Cam did, Big Ben did. Your career will be short. So he just got. Now you can, you can blame the offensive line, but Matt Hasselbeck and others, including Greg Cosell came on the show and said, don't blame the O line for all of it. He's holding the ball too long. And so here's the other thing to remember. Our staff found this stat. If you go look at Caleb Williams numbers last year, J Mac, this is interesting. When he held the ball under two and a half seconds, his passer rating was 99. Over two and a half, it was 81. So meaning the best stuff, the fruit on the limb is on getting rid of the ball quickly. So you think to yourself, no, I'm going to hold it. Let the play develop. No, the play deteriorates, protection deteriorates. Take it. 1001, 1002. Let her rip. That's what Jaden Daniels did. It's what. Caleb didn't do it. And I understand the habit because in high school and college, Caleb's like, I'm all, hold it a beat and you win. Lamar Jackson had a little bit of that his rookie year. First two years I'm going to hold. Told it to be. No, no. That works in high school and college, and it works in the NFL a little, but you will take a beating. And Lamar, what did he do about year three in the league? He put on weight and he ran less. It's like you figured. Michael Vick told me. Yeah, I got hit by London Fletcher. I decided to get better in the pocket like that. That's just the. I think it was London Fletcher. That's just the reality of the position.

[Bob Crawford]

Yeah. Didn't Caleb say he was watching film by himself last year in Chicago? He just wasn't getting the support from the staff. That's the kind of thing like, go in, watch the film. Hey, man. Quick reads. You know who's really good at processing and getting rid of the football? Brock Purdy. Look at him in the pocket. He's amazing. Just dropped back, bing, bang, boom. You could argue that's the Shanahan system. Fine. I, I believe that. But Ben Johnson and golf, you know, golf got rid of it quick in Detroit. Now, he did have a great offensive line. I think there's a world where Caleb is excellent this year and does the things he needs and avoid sacks and gets rid of the football.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, golf, you could look this up. Golf may have had five or six games where he completed 80% of his throws. Why? See it, spin it? Just don't. Sometimes you just. You. You can't. And I understand how golf is not. Golf and Brady are not super athletic, so I understand they understand. Get it out. I do think it's harder if you're Lamar Jackson or your Josh Allen or your Mahomes or your Caleb Williams. Well, you can actually tuck it and run and pick up a lot of yards like it is. I do think it's harder for the athlete, quarterback, to just always want to get rid of it fast because you've had. Because you had so much success tucking it and running it.

[Bob Crawford]

You know, sometimes, Colin, when I get to the line of scrimmage here on the set, I've got to read the defense. That would be you. The topic before, right? The topic that's coming up. I know your takes. There's a lot that goes into processing here.

[Danielle Roubais]

Here.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Just like Caleb, you need to let go really quickly. Get out of the play very quickly. Okay, have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back. And Degree listens. That doesn't happen often. They admitted they effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's antiperspirant and it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG degree cool rush for yourself.

[Jay Mac]

Join iHeartRadio and Sarah Spain in celebrating the one year anniversary of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Colin Cowherd]

With powerful interviews and insider analysis, our shows have connected fans with the heart of women's Sports. In just one year, the network has launched 15 shows and built a community.

[Jay Mac]

United by passion podcasts that amplify the.

[Colin Cowherd]

Voices of women in sports.

[Jay Mac]

Thank you for supporting iHeart women's sports.

[Colin Cowherd]

And our founding sponsors E L F Beauty, Capital One and Novartis.

[Jay Mac]

Just open the free iHeart app and.

[Bob Crawford]

Search iHeart Women's Sports to Listen now.

[Danielle Roubais]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Colin Cowherd]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree?

[Jay Mac]

Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Danielle Roubais]

And I find the answers. I'm so glad you asked me this question.

[Jay Mac]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Danielle Roubais]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

My Uncle Chris was a real character.

[Danielle Roubais]

A garbage truck driver from South Carolina.

[Colin Cowherd]

Who is now buried in Panama City.

[Danielle Roubais]

Alongside the the founding families of Panama.

[Colin Cowherd]

He also happens to be responsible for the craziest night of my life. Wild stories about adventure, romance, crime, history.

[Jay Mac]

And war intertwine as I share the.

[Danielle Roubais]

Tall tales and hard truths that have.

[Jay Mac]

Helped me understand Uncle Chris.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Jay Mac]

This is an iHeart podcast.