Penn State Football: Trace McSorley is first-half MVP on offense

Through the first five games of the year for Penn State football, one player has stood out as the most important player on offense. 

Penn State football entered the 2018 season with high expectations, both as a team and for some individuals. Through five games, there have been both highs and lows, but all-in-all, it has been a solid start to the season for the Nittany Lions. One player in particular has been the best on the field for the Nittany Lions.

Senior quarterback Trace McSorley put together two very good seasons as the leader of the Penn State offense and came into the 2018 season as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the nation.

McSorley found his name on several preseason award watch lists before the start of this season. His name was also tossed around as an early contender for the Heisman Trophy.

So far, McSorley has yet to disappoint.

Through five games, he has completed 73-of-138 passes for 1,049 yards. He’s thrown 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions. The amazing thing is that his numbers could be even better, but his receivers have dropped countless passes in each game so far this year.

McSorley has made big throws in pressure situations, including a fourth down against Appalachian State to prevent a major upset in the opening week.

By the time this season ends, McSorley will go down in Penn State history as perhaps its best quarterback ever.

As good as McSorley has been throwing the ball, he’s been just as good, if not better, running it. Wether on designed runs, or scrambling out of a collapsed pocket, McSorley has been nearly untouchable by opposing defenses.

He’s second on the team with 66 carries and 410 rushing yards. He’s tied with running back Miles Sanders for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with six. In the last game against Ohio State, McSorley was unstoppable on the ground, rushing for 175 yards on 25 carries.

The fact that McSorley was able to gash the Ohio State defense last Saturday makes the decision to take the ball out of his hands on Penn State’s last offensive play of the game even more perplexing.

Without a doubt, Trace McSorley has been Penn State’s star player on offense throughout the first half of the 2018 season. He hasn’t done anything to slow his hype train, and should be able to keep up his production moving forward.

If McSorley is able to continue playing at  a high level, then Penn State will be just fine moving forward.