Penn State football offered current quarterback Drew Allar when he was an up-and-coming four-star player for Medina high school in Ohio. The soon-to-be Nittany Lion committed to the team before his senior season and erupted into a five-star, top-ten player in the Class of 2022. Today, the BWI Daily Edition takes you behind that transformation from a talented passer into a borderline superstar with the man who helped him get there. Private quarterback trainer Brad Maendler started working with Allar before his junior season and has tutored Allar throughout his final two seasons. Maendler takes you into the "Why behind the what."
The Why Behind the What
Maendler starts the show by explaining how he got into quarterback coaching. A former quarterback himself, it's an unlikely way that he started coaching players professionally. He explains learning the biomechanics behind throwing and where he learned them.
After that, host Thomas Frank Carr and Maendler dive into the subject of Allar. The Ohio native explains what made him reach out to Allar's parents in the first place and how the young quarterback impressed him during training. Much like Penn State's other five-star players in the 2022 class, Allar went through a transformation during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
That topic ties into something that T-Frank saw from Maendler online when discussing linear versus rotational throwing mechanics. Maendler then explains the evolution of traditional throwing mechanics and how he helped Allar change from a baseball thrower into a modern quarterback. Through this, he describes a new way of throwing, which quarterbacks from the NFL down, use to deliver the football with consistent power and accuracy.
T-Frank wants to know more, so he asks Maendler if this is where Allar's improved accuracy came from his senior season. They discuss the transformation process and the effort that Allar put into the switch. Maendler also gives insight into the Penn State freshman's personality and work ethic.
While most of their time deals with Penn State's prized quarterback, T-Frank wants insight into the other people and factors into Allar's development. He asks Maendler how the Medina offense relied on the 6-5 passer and how he made it his own over time. They also discuss Penn State quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. What are his impressions of the second-year Penn State coordinator? He explains what he likes about Yurcich and what they have in common.
Finally, T-Frank asks about another pupil that Maendler is currently working with, four-star quarterback Ryan Montgomery. The 6-2 Class of 2025 passer visited Penn State last weekend and is a high-priority player for his cycle. What makes him so good? Maendler describes his physical and mental approach to the game.
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