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S P R I N G P R A C T I C E R E P O R T ommy Stevens understands what he's ex- pected to say. After all, he's been at Penn State for four years and counting now, a January 2015 early enrollee with appearances in 23 games. The primary backup to quarterback Trace McSorley in each of the past three seasons, Stevens has a back story that reads like a saga. But as Stevens begins his fifth spring practice with the Nittany Lions and his first without Mc- Sorley, he also understands he must beat out Sean Clifford if he wants to win the starting quarter- back job. And he's not backing down now. "There's no way he doesn't think that it's his job as much as I think that it's my job," Stevens said a few weeks before spring drills began on March 13. "To be blunt, both of us are going to come in, compete as hard as we can, and whatever happens, happens. "I'm comfortable with where I am. I'm finally healthy. And I'm excited. I'm excited for the op- portunity, because it's been a long time." More like an eternity in today's college football, especially at the quarterback position. Briefly, the back story: After taking a redshirt year to begin his Penn State career, Stevens was tabbed as a legitimate competitor to McSorley in preseason camp lead- ing into the 2016 season. McSorley was more experienced, having en- gineered a second-half comeback attempt in the TaxSlayer Bowl, but Stevens was right there with him, neck-and-neck, as the regular sea- son approached. In the end, head coach James Franklin chose McSorley, and the Nittany Lions went on to enjoy one of the win- ningest three-year stretches in the program's his- tory, claiming an improbable Big Ten championship in 2016 and earning back-to-back New Year's Six bowl berths. Much of the Lions' success was due to McSorley's durability; he started all 40 games during that span and won 31 of them. But that didn't preclude Stevens from carving out a separate niche for himself as more than just a clipboard-holding sideline presence. On several occasions, he flashed the athletic ability that had earlier put him in contention for the starting job. Against Iowa in 2016, for instance, he rushed five times for 70 yards, including a bruising 13-yard touchdown run that went viral. The following year, he spent time at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, an all-purpose role that even- tually earned him a separate position dubbed the "Lion." Occasionally, he would line up at all three spots in a single game. Against Georgia State, he threw a touchdown pass and also caught one. Against Maryland, he piled up 113 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while also throwing a 4-yard TD pass. But even though Penn State found ways to get the ball in his hands, his role didn't truly match up with the story he had originally en- visioned for himself. "I always list out team goals, I al- ways list out my goals and the things that I want to do," Stevens said. "I did get most of my goals my redshirt sophomore year when the whole Lion thing came out. I hit some of them. I did not hit all of my PERSISTENCE OF VISION T Tommy Stevens has long viewed himself as a worthy inheritor of PSU's starting quarterback position. With one more season to play, his opportunity has arrived | GAME OF CHANCE After backing up Trace McSorley for the past three seasons, Stevens is competing with Sean Clifford this spring for the starting QB spot. Stevens has played in 23 games in his career. Photo by Steve Manuel C O V E R S T O R Y

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