Sean Clifford details comfort level entering second year of Mike Yurcich's offense
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford is nothing short of a veteran as he enters his sixth year with the Nittany Lions and will make his 34th career start in their season opener versus Purdue September 1. Clifford may be experienced, but discussed on Always College Football with Greg McElroy some of the struggles he went through regarding the turnover of the offensive coordinator position at Penn State.
“I have not had a second year in the system at Penn State. We had a new OC after my first year starting, new OC after my second year starting so it just kept on going and now having coach Yurcich back, this is my fourth year going in and having him back has been so significant,” Clifford said. “Just from going into mastery over learning the offense, not learning what the terminology is but knowing what the terminology is like the back of my hand and then being able to execute at a higher level.”
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich is a very experienced offensive mind with over 23 years of college coaching experience, coaching NFL quarterback talent like Justin Fields, Mason Rudolph, and Sam Ehlinger during their college careers. And in his second year as offensive coordinator gets a quarterback in Clifford who has been more comfortable than he’s ever been in an offensive system.
“Talk the language, make the checks, him having more trust in me as a six year guy, which I should be able to do, be able to really control the reigns and just fully dive into the quarterback position at Penn State, which needs to be somebody that can make the checks at the line without looking to the sideline, being able to know the game plan inside and out,” Clifford said.
Clifford had one of his best seasons to date under Yurcich, as Clifford threw more completions (247) and for more yards (2,912) than any other season in his career for the Nittany Lions. And now that he’s finally spent some time in this system for more than one season, is eager to do bigger numbers this season and lead the team to a bounce back season.
“And you know it’s been tough to get to that point near the midway part of the season towards the end, but then we’ve had a different OC the next year, so being able to be in that same system, I’m so excited. We have a great schedule that I’m juiced to get into as well and there’s just so much opportunity, I’m blessed to be in the position that I am, I’m really excited about it and like I said coach Yurcich is a big part of that,” Clifford said.