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Why Penn State football’s quarterbacks will have a big day on Saturday

By Alec Whitaker

Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) passes as the Auburn Tigers take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Aupsu17
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) passes as the Auburn Tigers take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Aupsu17 /
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Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Getting Comfortable 

This is more of a factor for Allar than Clifford, but true for both.

Penn State is playing more wide receivers this season than they did last year, resulting in Clifford needing to make new connections with receivers. With Allar being a true freshman, he’s starting from scratch with all his targets.

Receivers not named Jahan Dotson, Parker Washington and Keandre Lambert-Smith caught 11 passes last year.

This year, Penn State is trying to rotate more wide receivers, at least early in the season. Transfer Mitchell Tinsley has filed the spot left empty by Dotson while the likes of Harrison Wallace, Omari Evans and others have been rotated in frequently.

Now heading into game four, both quarterbacks are starting to get comfortable with their new weapons.

Clifford and Tinsley have been a strong connection so far this year. This relationship came together quick in part thanks to the two living together this year. For Allar, he linked up with Evans for his first career touchdown but has also connected with Washington a few times this year.

Dotson garnered most of the attention from the quarterbacks last year, this year, it’s more of a collective effort.

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