Penn State Football: Grades versus Rutgers
By Dylan Burd
Quarterbacks
I’m not sure I’ve seen Trace McSorley have a more inaccurate passing game in his college career. McSorley was sailing throws high and throwing balls behind the receiver, which is so unlike him.
He started the game only completing three of his first 14 passing attempts before completing two passes in a row to tight end Pat Freiermuth, one of them for a touchdown.
The inaccuracy of Trace McSorley largely has to do with the brace on his right knee for his nagging injury causing off-balance throws and abnormal mechanics. The hope is that by the time of the bowl game in about a month and a half from now, McSorley will be 100 percent.
Despite the rough start to the game, McSorley ended 17-of-37 for 183 yards and two touchdowns. That means that after the 3-for-14 start, McSorley was 14 of his next 23, which isn’t terrible. In addition to the 183 yards passing, he also had 39 yards rushing.
McSorley’s only turnover in the game came on an interception on a bomb down the field to true freshman wide receiver Justin Shorter. Despite getting frequent playing time lately, Tommy Stevens didn’t step on the field at all on Saturday, not even for a rushing attempt. The reasoning for why Stevens didn’t play is unknown, so we’ll have to see if he’s in the game plan for Maryland.
Despite the shaky performance, Trace McSorley became Penn State’s all-time winningest quarterback on Saturday with the 30th win of his college career. It’s an incredible achievement for such a storied program.