Since COVID-19 affected college football eligibility back in 2020 we have had a new term coined in “Super Senior.” For 2022, Penn State quarterback [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag] was named one for the upcoming season.
Bleacher Report’s Morgan Moriarty named several Super Seniors for the 2022 season, and including Sean Clifford does make a lot of sense. Clifford will be entering his fifth year on campus and expectations remain high for him and the Nittany Lions after last season fell flat. The team started the season ranked 19th and kicked things off by winning its first five games, including a road win at Wisconsin and a big home win against the Auburn Tigers. They would only win two of their final eight games and some thought that Clifford may go pro, but he decided to return for one more run with Penn State.
Sean Clifford will have several passing records within reach when the 2022 season begins. He will enter the season 4th in completions and attempts, third in passing yards, and second in touchdown passes. All of these records are well within Clifford’s wheelhouse to the point where he can even underperform from what his average stats are and still hit them.
Of course, Clifford will have to win the supposed quarterback competition the team is having between him and freshman five-star recruit [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]. [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] has shown he favors upper-classmen in quarterback situations more often than not, but Allar could also push Clifford to get better himself. We know Clifford is a proven leader and an above-average quarterback. Some even see him as a worthwhile prospect NFL prospect.
The question will remain, with all these records moving into Clifford’s name, where does he rank all-time in terms of Penn State quarterbacks? Obviously, what happens this season will play an impact on such things but barring a national championship run, it is tough to put him above the likes of [autotag]Todd Blackledge[/autotag] or [autotag]Kerry Collins[/autotag]. And the argument for [autotag]Trace McSorley[/autotag] is a pretty strong one as well.
Penn State is set to kick off the season against Purdue on September 1st, a team that Clifford had success against in his only career game vs. the Boilermakers. If he replicates the stat line of 20/29, 264 yards, and three passing touchdowns, then he will be off to a good start to his record-breaking season.
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