Penn State Football: Will Sean Clifford bounce back in 2021?

Sean Clifford’s career in Happy Valley has been filled with ups and downs.

In 2019, he led the Nittany Lions to an 11-2 record in his first season as starting quarterback, passing for over 2,600 yards with 23 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He helped Penn State football contend for a Big Ten East title and looked like a budding star.

Following that breakout season, expectations were at an all-time high and some even considered him a top-three returning quarterback in the conference for 2020.

That didn’t quite pan out.

In fact, he led the league in interceptions with nine and had 1,883 yards while averaging almost a full yards less per attempt than he did the previous season. He did complete about 60 percent of his passes and threw for 16 touchdowns, but he just didn’t look as sharp as he had during his first season as the Nittany Lions’ QB1.

It was a disappointing year overall for Penn State and Clifford as the Nittany Lions started 0-5 and then finished on a four-game winning streak, but no one would call 2020 a success.

Will Clifford bounce back with Ta’Quan Roberson potentially nipping at his heels?

Penn State football needs 2019 Clifford back

The regression Clifford suffered through in 2020 was surprising but it can often happen with starting quarterbacks who set the bar high in their first seasons.

But Penn State suffered during his regression, crawling to a 4-5 record after an 0-5 start.

Penn State needs Clifford to get back to his 2019 form if it wants even a shot at a Big Ten title but after his disappointment in 2020, everyone is just assuming he’s going to keep heading down the path of mediocrity. Most publications are predicting somewhere in the ballpark of 7-9 wins for Penn State and a second or third-place finish in the Big Ten East.

Will Clifford get back to his old ways in 2021?

With four of his top five receivers returning and some talented freshman receivers coming in, I think he does bounce back and pass for somewhere around 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. The offense has too much talent to continue down this path.

Gear up for the return of Clifford to the top of the Big Ten quarterback rankings in 2021.