Blue White Illustrated

It's back. Penn State hasn't had a quarterback battle since true freshman Christian Hackenberg won the starting job over transfer Tyler Ferguson before the start of the 2013 season. But as expected fol- lowing Hackenberg's decision to enter the NFL Draft a year early, the Nittany Lions will have a two- or possibly even three-man race for the starting position when spring practice begins on Friday. Coach James Franklin met with the media Monday afternoon to preview the upcoming slate of 15 practices. Although he didn't mention the quarterbacks until the very end of his opening state-of-the- union address, much of the subsequent presser was focused on what is sure to be the team's most scrutinized position battle of the off-season. Franklin said redshirt sophomore Trace McSorley and redshirt freshman Tommy Stevens trained side- by-side during winter workouts, describ- ing the competition as a fierce one already. "They have a lot of [mutual] respect and really like each other, but they truly are really competing in everything," Franklin said. "When they lift, they are at the same station lifting together every single day. When they run, they are right next to each other. And obviously the young pup, Jake Zembiec, is right there with them, trying to [capitalize on] his opportunity." Of the three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster this spring, McSorley is the only Nittany Lion quarterback with any game experience to his name at this point in his career. Playing in seven games last season be- hind Hackenberg, McSorley finished with 20 completions in 40 attempts for 185 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Nearly all of that yardage and both of the touchdowns came in Penn State's loss to Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl – an expe- rience that Franklin said was "obviously important for Trace." "He got into a game at a point where it had not already been decided and really made some plays. Made some tough throws, made some plays with his feet. Really took control and showed some fire on the sideline and had fun doing it," Franklin said. "That was great for him and for his confidence going into the sea- son, and really for the coaches as well, because you never truly know until someone gets in there in that type of sit- uation, and I think he did pretty well." However, McSorley's game experience will not necessarily be a decisive factor as the competition enters a new phase. What will be a factor? Leadership, for one thing. Penn State has a dearth of seniors due to its previous scholarship restrictions, so Franklin will be looking for his starting quarterback to display a take-charge personality. Fortunately for the Lions, both of their leading con- tenders displayed that ability in high school. McSorley took part in four state championship games in his native Vir- ginia, while Stevens made his own mark as a high school player in Indianapolis. Physical skills will also play a role in the outcome of Penn State's quarterback competition. McSorley is listed at 6- foot-0, 199 pounds on the team's latest roster, while Stevens is listed at 6-4, 219. They have very different body types, but their skill sets are not as dissimilar as the physical disparity between the two might suggest, even when they're on the run. While McSorley tested better in the pro agility drill and 40-yard dash, Franklin said they are comparable when they're on the field. "If you talk to our players, [Stevens] plays as fast as Trace," he said. "When he would pull the ball down, he would take off, and he's got this long stride and he's a guy who could make plays with his arm or his feet. He's handled everything really well. He's embraced his role and his op- portunity. He is approaching this as if he is going to be the starter and believes that 100 percent, and Trace feels the same way. I think, to be honest with you, there are a lot of similar traits." M A R C H 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 6 Spring flings Battle for PSU's starting quarterback position about to enter new phase F O O T B A L L N A T E   B A U E R   | N B A U E R @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M READY FOR ACTION McSorley is coming off a strong perform- ance in the Tax- Slayer Bowl Photo by Steve Manuel Patrick Mansell

• Cover