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Penn State Football: Updated top five all-time quarterbacks

By Collin Wieder

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 3: Quarterback Michael Robinson #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to pass during the 72nd Fed Ex Orange Bowl against the Florida State Seminoles at Dolphins Stadium on January 3, 2005 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Penn State defeated Florida State 26-23 in triple overtime. (Photo by: Doug Benc/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 3: Quarterback Michael Robinson #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to pass during the 72nd Fed Ex Orange Bowl against the Florida State Seminoles at Dolphins Stadium on January 3, 2005 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Penn State defeated Florida State 26-23 in triple overtime. (Photo by: Doug Benc/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Quarterback Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to pass the ball against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Quarterback Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to pass the ball against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

Honorable Mention: Trace McSorley

It was so hard to pick just five so why not include the two closely contested outsiders. Penn State football’s home run hitter and resurgent warrior, Trace McSorley, starts the list. Although he has only quarterbacked the Nittany Lions for one season, it turned out to be the greatest statistical season in the program’s history.

Before fans jump on me for the aforementioned criteria on statistics, McSorley means more for his help in restoring the program to the national spotlight. After the scandal, it was tough sledding getting back into the win column.

A four-year record of 29-21 set Penn State football into a rut of mediocrity. McSorley pulled them out leading the Nittany Lions to an 11-3, 2016 season along with the program’s first Big Ten title in nearly a decade. The offense moved from a stagnant 2015 to one of the most exciting, diverse offenses in 2016. McSorley threw for a single-season record 3,614 yards and 29 touchdowns to just eight interceptions while rushing for 365 yards and seven touchdowns.

New Kid on the block

Against Wisconsin, McSorley accomplished something no other Penn State quarterback had. He won a Big Ten Championship Game in the Lions’ first ever appearance. And he did it in near perfect, comeback fashion picking apart the Badgers for 384 yards and four scores.

Penn State may have come up short to USC in the Rose Bowl, but McSorley overcame two interceptions on his first two pass attempts to lead them on a comeback. He led the Nittany Lions to the doorstep of greatness, and he could do it again.

Offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead found the perfect vessel for his high-scoring, aggressive attack. McSorley’s slow start didn’t deter his late season explosion. When it clicked, he put up big numbers and earned the right to keep the job. One more season like 2016 or better, and he should crack the top five.

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