How will Penn State football split up quarterback reps in practice ahead of the Rose Bowl?
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State has two missions at its quarterback position in December. It must prepare Sean Clifford to start his final game as a Lion in the Rose Bowl opposite Utah. But, it also has to maximize the opportunity it has to continue preparing backup Drew Allar to take over in 2023.
How will the Lions go about doing it? Drills continue on Friday and throughout the rest of the next couple of weeks before the team moves its show on the road to Pasadena, Calif., a week before the Jan. 2 matchup with the No. 8 Utes.
“It’s a great opportunity for the young guys to get more reps, but as we get closer and closer to really trying to get the Utah game plan going, it’s going to be a lot like it was in the middle of season, [and] throughout the season,” offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said,
“Sean will get the majority of reps with the ones. There’ll be some opportunity for Drew to get some reps with the ones as well. But, we’ve got to get Sean ready to go.”
Translation: If you expected or hoped that Allar would start, your wishes will not be granted.
How does Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich evaluate Allar’s season to date?
Penn State put Allar in as quickly as it deemed possible in multiple matchups during the regular season. He completed 35 of 59 passes for 344 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. How did Yurcich evaluate his performance over nine games?
“The process goes that you want to win the football game,” Yurcich said. “We felt throughout the season that, when we felt comfortable putting them in the game, the earlier the better at times. Maybe some guys would have stuck with their starter a little bit longer, based on the score and when your defense is playing as well as we played throughout the season, we felt pretty confident putting him in when we did to secure the game but also to give him reps that matter.
“Right now, where he’s at, he’s really come along very well. And, we’re just continuing to press on the little things, the things that are controllable in the film room. Identifications, continuing to press on the protections, and the basics of quarterback play, and to test and to see the things that he doesn’t know or doesn’t understand, and try to find that threshold and continue to evaluate those things. But he’s pretty well-versed in everything. He’s come a long way, and I’m extremely happy about both of those guys’ progress thus far.”
The other guy is freshman Beau Pribula, of course, who is expected to be the backup next season.
Penn State-Utah will start at 5 p.m. on Jan. 2. ABC will televise the contest.
