Blue White Illustrated

F or quarterback Sean Cli5ord, his team's mission has always out- weighed any personal goals. But when they overlap, as they did earlier this sum- mer, it's a moment he enjoys. When Rivals.com updated its top 250 rankings, it was Cli5ord who was rated highest among the verbally committed players in Penn State's Class of 2017. Climbing 27 spots since June, Cli5ord is now considered the No. 136 prospect in the country and the seventh-best pro- style QB. With that, the four-star player from Cincinnati sees a special opportunity. "It's just one of those things," Cli5ord said. "Build your stock and keep rising throughout. Obviously, once you get to college, [the ranking] is gone, but what- ever I can get and keep building o5 of, I'll take it. Whatever [it takes] to make my dream reality – I've appreciated it." Part of Cli5ord's vision involves helping persuade some of the country's best high school recruits to follow him to University Park next summer. If all goes well, he won't be the class's highest ranked mem- ber by the end of the recruiting cycle. He's hoping that when national letter of intent day arrives in February, the Nittany Lion will have recruits scat- tered across the Ri- vals250, maybe even two or three who are above him in the rank- ings. That doesn't mean Cli5ord is dissatis4ed with the current status of the class. Far from it. With 14 other prospects verbally com- mitted, good for the No. 23 spot in Rivals' national rankings as of mid-September, Cli5ord is encouraged by Penn State's summer surge in recruiting, and he's im- pressed with the recruits who are already on board. Not only are many of them blue-chippers in their own right, but they, too, have begun building a rapport that Cli5ord hopes will translate into an even stronger bond at PSU. "I think the quality [of the recruits] is awesome, from my perspective, at least being the quarterback and leader of the class," Cli5ord said. "Every guy that I meet and talk to, they're guys that I'd hang out with outside of football, so that helps build team chemistry." With only a few scholarships remaining in the class, Penn State is hoping to land prospects who share similar values both on the 4eld and o5. Cli5ord is going to do what he can to help with that task. And that's what he relishes most about his climb in the rankings. While it might not de4ne him as a player, it raises his pro4le, giving him a platform with which to help Penn State recruit the nation's best. "I don't think it's as much [a matter of] personal gain for me," Cli5ord said. "Whenever [recruiting reporters] write an article, I'm just hoping [another re- cruit] sees their name mentioned and it gets them excited about Penn State. ... It's just one of those things. I like to be a vocal leader when it comes to all aspects – on the 4eld and o5 the 4eld and to [media] as well." He estimates that he's been talking to as many as eight uncommitted prospects on a regular basis. His approach varies from | CINCINNATI KID A four- star quarterback from Ohio, Clifford has been in frequent contact with prospects on the Lions' re- cruiting board. Photo courtesy of Rivals.com

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