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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
Though the anticipation is high for incoming freshman Drew Allar, rated the nation's top quarterback prospect, Penn State will be able to lean on Sean Clifford in 2022.
Clifford announced Friday on Twitter that he plans to return for a sixth season.
"I will be returning to Penn State to play one more season in the Blue & White," Clifford wrote. "I could not pass up the chance to be with this family and play the game I love again. I am extremely excited to finish the season strong in Tampa (vs. Arkansas in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1) and then go to work with such a great group again."
Quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich reacted to the news by tweeting, "Fired up!"
Clifford has a chance to be the first four-year starting quarterback in Penn State history. He, like all players who went through the 2020 coronavirus-plagued season, was granted a sixth year of eligibility.
His younger brother, Liam, is a redshirt freshman receiver with the Nittany Lions.
"The opportunity to play alongside my brother, Liam, and the rest of my brothers on the team made the decision easy," Clifford said. "Penn State is more than football for me. It is family. My teammates, coach (James) Franklin, the staff and the community have shaped me into the man I am today, and I am forever grateful."
Clifford heads into the Outback Bowl with a 21-11 record as the Lions' starting quarterback -- going 10-2 in 2019 (he missed a game vs. Rutgers), 4-4 in 2020 (he was benched for a start vs. Iowa but played) and 7-5 this past season.
He was pulled after the first quarter against Rutgers this year due to illness, and true freshman Christian Veilleux started and threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
Clifford finished the year completing 247-of-396 passes (66%) for 2,912 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.
He is among Penn State's career passing leaders in several categories, His 8,495 career total yards (7,644 pass, 851 rush), rank second all-time at Penn State behind Trace McSorley.
Clifford led PSU to a 5-0 start this past season before suffering an injury at Iowa that knocked him out of that game and limited his ability to run the ball and throw deep thereafter as the Lions lost five of their last seven games.
Clifford will turn 24 before the start of next season. Allar, named Mr. Ohio for football, turns 18 in March.
Allar plans to enroll at Penn State in January and will be joined in the freshman class by York's Beau Pribula. Veilleux and Ta'Quan Roberson, this year's backups, will also be in the mix.