Is there any quarterback debate in Happy Valley?
The return of Clifford for an extra year of eligibility raises some pretty notable questions, including a big one Franklin will do his best to put to rest as often as needed. Is there a quarterback controversy brewing at Penn State?
That is because Clifford is back for a fourth season as Penn State’s starter and the Nittany Lions just added one of the top passers in the Class of 2022 with Drew Allar. Like Singleton at the running back position, fans are eager to see what the future holds for Allar at Penn State, but there is almost no chance he supplants Clifford as the starting quarterback for the 2022 season.
At least, at the start of the season.
I have written before how much respect I have for Clifford and what he has brought to the program. But we very well may have seen everything he has to offer in the offense after three years as the starter. If Penn State hits a few bumps this season and Clifford gets banged up again, the calls fr Allar will grow loudly very quickly. Franklin is certainly not naive to that possibility, although he will not get mixed up with such conversation easily either.
Expect Franklin to back Clifford as his starter while Allar learns, is developed, and prepared for his eventual moment. That moment could come this season at any point in time. It would be unlike Franklin to throw a match on a powderkeg of a situation with a quarterback debate in the spring, summer or in the early portion of the fall. Like it or not, Clifford will be the starting quarterback for Penn State when the new season begins. And if Clifford is the team’s starting quarterback at the end of the season, that could suggest the Nittany Lions have turned in a pretty good season.
So is there a quarterback debate? Maybe for the fans and the media. But not at all for Franklin.
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