Penn State Football: Week 3 Studs and Duds against Kent State
By Corey Hunter
Quarterback – Trace McSorley
At this point, there is very little that hasn’t been written about the Nittany Lions signal-caller. Still, he continues to amaze with his skill and athleticism. As Penn State Head Coach James Franklin has said many times, Trace is a winner.
On Saturday, McSorley once again showed why he is one of the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy. He was 11-for-22 passing for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and one interceptions. Dropped passes once again reared their ugly head or else McSorley would have had an even better passing stat line. His lone interception wa a result of a pass that went off running back Miles Sanders’ hands and into the lap of the would-be defender.
Still, McSorley made a touchdown-saving tackle, shades of his high school days as a safety at Briar Woods High School.
Always the dual-threat quarterback, McSorley added to his stat line by rushing nine times for 54 yards, including three scores. McSorley has been running the ball less than he did the last two years, but the emergence of Miles Sanders has allowed McSorley to avoid taking some of the unnecessary hits that always worry the Nittany Lion faithful.
Trace epitomizes the concept of ‘team leader’. In the public eye, He is unassuming and goes about his business with ruthless efficiency. In the locker room he commands the respect of the team and holds everyone, including himself, accountable.
At season’s end, McSorley will hold nearly every major passing record at Penn State, and while some of that has to do with the style of offense Penn State has switched to during his tenure, the major reason is his immense athletic talent and his unwavering commitment to excellence.
That commitment will be put to the test as Penn State enters the teeth of their schedule over the next six weeks.