Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1340947
WHAT HE DID Cli?ord enjoyed two im- mensely productive seasons at St. Xavier. As a senior, he totaled 72 catches for 1,090 yards and 12 touchdowns, helping the Bombers go 10-2 en route to Ohio's Division I state championship. As a jun- ior, he had 77 catches for 1,180 yards and 13 scores, while also adding 55 rushing yards and a TD on the ground. A three- year letterman and two-time team cap- tain, Cli?ord =nished as St. Xavier's career leader in recep- tions (166), receiving yards (2,538) and receiv- ing touchdowns (30). He also played basketball in high school. WHAT HE WON Cli?ord was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, as well as the No. 34 prospect in Ohio. Following his out- standing senior season, he was named the Division I O?ensive Player of the Year by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association and also was the Greater Catholic League South Player of the Year. As a junior, he won second-team All-State honors and shared his conference's Receiver of the Year award. WHERE HE VISITED Penn State always had an edge with Clifford, the younger brother of starting quarterback Sean Clifford. He began getting to know James Franklin and the rest of the coaching staff when Sean was being re- cruited, and he received his offer in the summer of 2019 following a strong per- formance at a Penn State camp. Clifford also received offers from Duke, Ken- tucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt and Tennessee, among others. But the Nittany Lions were always the team to beat, and in the end, no one did. Clifford committed on Oct. 20, 2019, one day after offensive lineman Nate Bruce an- nounced for PSU. QUOTABLE Cli?ord: "I wanted to com- mit to Penn State because it just felt like home. Every time I'm there, the coaching sta? makes me feel like family and it really is just such a special place. I decided to commit [more than a year ahead of the early signing period] because I knew in my heart that's where I wanted to be and because it just felt right. ... I'm so happy to o@cially be a part of the PSU family." STRETCHING THE FIELD Clifford set career records at St. Xavier for most catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Photo by Milt Wentzel Rivals.com LIAM CLIFFORD RIVALS ★★★ | POS WR | HT 6-1 | WT 191 | HOME Maineville, Ohio | SCHOOL St. Xavier >>