Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1499919
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 3 3 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M acquisition, Clifford will battle for- mer LSU quarterback Danny Etling for Green Bay's backup job. FRANKLIN SAYS: "It's been an honor to watch Sean grow into a man who exemplified our core values and what it meant to be a leader. His suc- cess was well documented, and his toughness, resilience and leadership will always be well respected. He has represented Penn State and our football program in the best light, which is a big reason why he was a four-year captain." CARR'S ANALYSIS: The 11th quar- terback taken in this year's draft, Clif- ford is joining the Packers as a backup and not as a competitor for the starting job. Still, the offensive situation around him is favorable if he's pressed into duty. The Packers have had the NFL's best overall rushing attack during the past three seasons, led by running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Given Green Bay's success on the ground, it's not surprising that it uses play-action and motion more often than most teams. If Clifford were to see action, his pre- snap skills would be a considerable as- set. Play action, motion and RPO plays open bigger windows and provide more well-defined reads for the quarterback. Clifford's arm strength, while not elite, is good enough to make most throws in the NFL. Moreover, Green Bay's offensive line is excellent when healthy. According to Pro Football Focus, the Packers have been a top-10 team in pass-blocking ef- ficiency each of the past three seasons. So, to sum up, Green Bay throws a moderate amount and protects well when it does throw. That's the kind of situation in which an inexperienced quarterback can have some success. Parker Washington ROUND: Sixth (185th pick overall) TEAM: Jacksonville Jaguars DETAILS: Washington missed the final three games of the 2022 season with an ankle injury and wasn't able to take part in on-field drills at the NFL Combine or Penn State's Pro Day. His unavailability gave rise to specula- tion that the 5-10, 202-pound receiver would have been better off returning for his senior season at Penn State, but he took his chances and heard his name called early in the sixth round. Washington finished his college ca- reer with 146 receptions for 1,920 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was an honor- able mention All-Big Ten pick following the 2022 season. Washington's versatility was a part of his appeal as an NFL prospect. In ad- dition to his work as a member of the Nittany Lions' receiving corps, he also was the team's primary punt returner in 2022 before being hurt in practice. FRANKLIN SAYS: "Parker was an incredible playmaker for the three years he was with us. He has elite ball skills and great body control, which allowed him to make a ton of plays during his time here. … The Jaguars got a steal with Parker." CARR'S ANALYSIS: Washington has a significant roadblock in front of him in the form of starting wide receiver Christian Kirk, who lined up in the slot on 75 percent of his snaps last season. Kirk is in the second year of a four-year, $72 million deal. Behind him is flex tight end Evan Engram, who lined up in the slot 40 percent of the time. Even out- side receiver Zay Jones saw a sizeable number of slot snaps last season. The upside for Washington is that he will have time to learn before being thrust into action. The bad news is that he might never see the field. ■ After being selected in the fifth round, Sean Clifford will likely vie with former LSU quarterback Danny Etling for the backup quarterback job in Green Bay. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE