Penn State Football: Time to panic after Appalachian State drama?

2. Trace McSorley is overrated

For all the preseason hype surrounding Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley, he sure was underwhelming against the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the season-opener. His numbers don’t look bad – 230 passing yards, 53 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns – but it couldn’t have been what Nittany Lion fans’ were expecting from their Heisman-hopeful.

This is a fifth-year senior quarterback we’re talking about here. He’s supposed to be Joe Cool and handle everything thrown his direction. He didn’t turn the ball over and was sacked only once, but 10 points at halftime – against that opponent – is disgraceful.

McSorley ran for a touchdown in the third quarter and managed the clock well on another Nittany Lion scoring drive, but was held in check thereafter until late in the fourth quarter when it mattered most.

Having Saquon Barkley by his side the past few seasons really clouded everyone’s judgment of McSorley, but the senior gunslinger is still very talented. His game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter is what legacies are made of. Although, “McSorley sat every second half his senior season because their offense ran like a well-tuned machine,” sounds way better than, “McSorley is the GOAT for that comeback win against a Sun Belt team!”