Penn State Football: which returning starters need to step up in 2022?

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 20: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to pass against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 20, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Sean Clifford – quarterback

This one is obvious.

Penn State Football can only go as far as Sean Clifford (and also the offensive line) can take them.

Twice in his career, the Nittany Lions were undefeated and ranked as high as fourth in the country with Sean Clifford under center, the first of which was in 2019 when Penn State got off to an 8-0 start and found themselves ranked fourth in that season’s first College Football Playoff ranking.

Then, they ran into the also undefeated Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Prior to that game, Clifford had a 20:3 touchdown to interception ratio, a 61.9% completion percentage, was averaging 241.4 passing yards per game, and had a passer rating of 166.5.

However, beginning with that Minnesota matchup, his stats for the remainder of the season were as follows: a 3:4 touchdown to interception ratio, 53.8% completion percentage, an average of 180.8 passing yards per game (he did miss much of the second half of the Ohio State game, which brings that average down), and a passer rating of 113.1.

A clear decline in his production, and the scoreboard suffered as a result.

What about in 2021?

Prior to leaving with an injury with a 17-3 lead at Iowa, Clifford had an 11:5 touchdown to interception ratio, a 66.5% completion percentage, 247 passing yards per game, and had a 152.1 passer rating through five and a half games.

After the injury, he had a 10:3 touchdown to interception ratio, a 52.9% completion percentage, 232.1 passing yards per game (missing most of the Rutgers game brought that average down), and a passer rating of 113.6.

Just like in 2019, when his performance went downhill, so did the record. Granted the injury didn’t do him any favors, as well as a non-existent running game, but still.

If Clifford can play a full season like he did in the first eight games of 2019 and the first five and a half games in 2021, this Penn State Football team can win a lot of games. The key, however, is consistency.

His performance should improve in year two under Mike Yurcich, though exactly how much it will improve remains to be seen.

Clifford needs to limit his mistakes and negative plays, improve his accuracy, and be able to consistently get the ball into the hands of his playmakers if he hopes to lead this team on a run towards a Big Ten title in his final opportunity to do so.

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