Blue White Illustrated

P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L >> That's one of the biggest questions of Penn State's season. Clifford is, after all, only a redshirt sophomore. He's still at the front end of his college career and is growing into a role that often requires a longer apprenticeship than the one that got cut short when Stevens entered the transfer portal this past April. One part of that acclimation process is getting used to the heightened attention that comes with the job. Fortunately for the Nittany Lions, Clifford is already fa- miliar with that part. He's active on Twit- ter and doesn't treat the give-and-take with fans as an obligation to be endured, but rather as a chance to get to know the people who've been cheering him on. "I don't try to shield myself from it," he said. "I like interacting with fans, I like being on social media and talking to peo- ple. I think that other people enjoy that, and if I can bring joy to someone's day just by saying hello, I mean, who wouldn't want to do that? Overall, you know, it's a fun game to play, and I'll take whatever comes with it." One of the things that comes with it is the inevitable round of comparisons that players must endure when they are aiming to join a lineage of great predecessors. One of the first people to chime in when Clif- ford was announced as the winner of the off-season competition for Penn State's starting job was Todd Blackledge. The for- mer Nittany Lion All-American noted that the past two Ohio quarterbacks to wear No. 14 at PSU – himself and John Shaffer – both led the Nittany Lions to national championships. No pressure, kid. But of course the comparison that has followed Clifford relentlessly has been the one to his immediate predecessor. McSor- ley rewrote the Nittany Lions' record book during his three seasons as the team's starter and casts a long shadow at PSU. Just as Miles Sanders last year had to endure an endless series of questions about Saquon Barkley, Clifford has been bombarded with references to McSorley. In a media room scrum following the Idaho game, a reporter prefaced his question about one of Clif- ford's touchdown throws by noting that the play seemed reminiscent of the kind that McSorley used to make with regular- ity. Clifford couldn't help but smile. "I was waiting for someone to say Trace," he said, laughing. "I was waiting for some- one to bring him up. I was like, if I can go through a whole interview without hear- ing Trace's name, that'll be something." As far as Clifford is concerned, Penn State's transition from McSorley's team to his team took place as soon as Stevens entered the transfer portal. Stevens had been the presumed starter after serving as McSorley's backup for three seasons, and his exit created a leadership void that Clifford was eager to fill. "I've thought it was my offense ever since Tommy left, if I'm being honest," he said. "I felt that… I had to step up and say some- thing. I guess that was one of the big turn- ing points for me. I've always tried to be the same person day in and day out. It hasn't really changed that much. I'm just a little more vocal." Clifford was voted a captain during the off-season, joining seven teammates who were so honored. He called it "the biggest accomplishment I've had at Penn State, maybe my life." That faith in his leadership stems at least in part from his sense of determination. Clifford was always a film junkie, watch- ing as much tape as he could get his hands on. Teammates could see even when he was a freshman that he was driven to make the most of his opportunity. JUMP AROUND Clifford and run- ning back Jour- ney Brown celebrate a touchdown in the Nittany Lions' opener against Idaho. Photo by Steve Manuel

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