Penn State Football: 3 bold predictions for November 2019

3. Sean Clifford finishes with better first season than Trace McSorley

The biggest question for Penn State heading into this season was how would they be able to replace Trace McSorley at quarterback. Not only did McSorley have great stats, but he was an emotional leader and baller during his time as Nittany Lion. The kid refused to lose and was instrumental in the team’s resurgence over the last few seasons.

No fan in Nittany Nation will forget McSorley. However Sean Clifford is doing his best to fill the void and has done a fantastic job through the first eight games.

Through McSorley’s first eight games as a stater during the 2016 season, he passed for 1,818 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. In Clifford’s first eight games as a starter, he has 1,931 yards, 20 touchdowns and matched with three interceptions. The rushing stats are very similar in yards and McSorley had one more rushing touchdown at this point, four versus three for Clifford.

McSorley flourished in his last 3 games of the 2016 season, throwing four touchdowns in each. However right now Clifford is on the trajectory to exceed McSorley’s passing and touchdown totals from his first season.

This is not a knock on McSorley. He was a great quarterback for the Nittany Lions. But Clifford has filled McSorley’s shoes nicely and has Penn State on track for big things this season.