Penn State Football: Case for Trace McSorley for offensive MVP

Was the senior quarterback Penn State football’s MVP in 2018?

Penn State football entered the 2018 season with some very high expectations after a win over Washington in the Fiesta Bowl the previous season. Quarterback Trace McSorley was returning as one of the best in the nation at his position and was an early candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

Although those expectations were not realized, McSorley still put up some good numbers during his final season in Happy Valley.

The Nittany Lions struggled more than expected on offense this past season, but McSorley made a strong case to be considered MVP of the Penn State offense.

During the season, McSorley became Penn State’s winningest quarterback, and he set a slew of school records — both career and single-season — along the way. He threw for 2,503 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Those passing numbers were the lowest he put up as a three-year starter at Penn State, but he battled some tough factors that contributed to the numbers. The Nittany Lions played several games in ugly weather where McSorley had to deal with a wet and slippery ball. Also, the run game wasn’t as dynamic in 2018 without the services of Saquon Barkley. Finally, McSorley suffered an injury against Iowa at the end of October and never looked fully healthy from that point.

He played his final game as a Nittany Lion, the Citrus Bowl against Kentucky, while clearly being hampered by some sort of foot injury.

Despite the lowered stats, the Nittany Lions were reliant on McSorley to lead the offense. Without his leadership and big-play ability, Penn State’s record could have been worse.

In the rushing department, McSorley put up the best numbers of his career. He ran the ball 170 times for 798 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also set a career mark with an average of 4.7 yards per carry.

McSorley used his leg throughout the season to extend plays, get away from pressure, and make big plays down the field. He rushed for two touchdowns three times over the season and scored three touchdowns on the ground in the win against Kent State.

He totaled at least three touchdowns six times during the season, with a season-best five total scores in the Kent State game.

There are a few players who could be candidates to be named Penn State’s best player on offense for the 2018 season, but the obvious choice is senior quarterback, Trace McSorley.