Penn State football: 5 Players that are key to a victory over Maryland

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 07: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions lays in the end zone after running 59 yards and being tackled at the one yard line against the Buffalo Bulls during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 07, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

3. Sean Clifford, QB

Sean Clifford’s performance thus far hasn’t bad. Has he been great? Not exactly. There were definitely some plays he left out on the field during the last game, which could’ve helped Penn State out tremendously. Granted, he could use some help from his offensive linemen, as they haven’t necessarily kept him very protected.

But Clifford is at fault for a handful of things as well. This week marks a major test for the first-season starter. Clifford was fortunate enough to play at home for his first three starts — but this week he hits the road for the first time against a conference opponent in a hostile environment.

Clifford will have to play in front of a sold-out crowd that’s mostly going against him. We all know Penn State is a young team. And games like this are going to be challenging to overcome throughout the year. The result of this game could heavily depend on what Clifford is able to accomplish. If he comes out flat, it could be a long night for the Lions’ offense.

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