Penn State Football 2018 Player Profile: QB Trace McSorley

Trace McSorley has sky-high expectations for his senior season at the helm of the Penn State offense.

Entering a new college football season a starting quarterback firmly in place is a great feeling for a team. That’s exactly what Penn State has heading into the 2018 season. Trace McSorley has led the Nittany Lions for the past two seasons and is looking to put up even bigger numbers in his senior season.

Returning as a senior, McSorley is coming off two successful seasons and has a lot of hype heading into the new season. He was named the best quarterback in the nation heading into the 2018 season by the Sporting News and is squarely among the early favorites for the Heisman Trophy.

After sitting behind Christian Hackenberg in 2015, McSorley was handed the reigns of the offense in 2016. That year, he threw for over 3,600 yards with 29 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. He helped lead the Nittany Lions to a berth in the Rose Bowl.

Using both his legs and arms, McSorley showed his versatility to the Penn State offense.

Last season, McSorley once again put up fantastic numbers, throwing for 3,570 yards and 28 touchdowns. He set career highs in rushing yards (491) and rushing touchdowns (11) and once again proved to be a key piece of the Penn State offense.

McSorley enters the 2018 with the longest active streak in the nation of consecutive games with a touchdown pass. Dating back to the 201 TaxSlayer Bowl, he has thrown at least one touchdown in in 28 consecutive games.

He’ll look to keep that streak going on September 1 when Penn State hosts Appalachian State.

McSorley came to Penn State as a member of the 2014 recruiting class. He was a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, who originally committed to James Franklin at Vanderbilt before following the head coach to Happy Valley.

Although McSorley wasn’t thought of was a big-time recruit when he came to Penn State, he’ll leave after this season as one of the best players in school history. He already holds several school career and individual season records.

With no Saquon Barkley this year, McSorley will be needed to pick up some of the offensive production for the Nittany Lions. He could face more pressure from opposing defenses that no longer have the star running back to key in on.

If McSorley can continue his solid play from the past two seasons, spreading the ball around and making timely plays with his legs, then the Nittany Lions could find themselves in the College Football Playoff at the conclusion of the season.

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