'He wants to leave Penn State the right way': James Franklin talks Sean Clifford returning with ESPN radio
Sean Clifford said he “could not pass up the chance to be with this family” when announcing that he would return to Penn State for the 2022 season last week.
According to James Franklin, that’s only part of the reason the veteran passer will play a sixth and final college football season in State College.
The leader of the Lions was a guest on ESPNU Radio’s Full Ride program on SiriusXM Wednesday. Much of the conversation focused on Signing Day and college football in general. Hosts Chris Childers and Rick Neuheisel did ask about No. 14 coming back, however.
“Sean’s got really high aspirations,” Franklin said. “He was a finalist for the academic Heisman this year [the William V. Campbell Trophy]. Has really done some good things. Guys, you know, he’s playing lights out, and we’re undefeated, and we’re winning against Iowa on the road and Sean gets hurt and was hurt for a couple of weeks after that. It impacted Sean, and obviously, it impacted our team.
“So you know, after talking with his family and talking with me, he wants to leave Penn State the right way, which is putting Penn State in the best position to be successful on a national level, but also putting Sean in the best position to get drafted as high as possible and also to make a team.”
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Clifford will lead a quarterback room in 2022 that has three other scholarship options. Christian Veilleux is back for his second season on campus. Then, Drew Allar and Beau Pribula enroll in January for their first. Clifford will be the unquestioned QB1 heading into spring practice, but there will certainly be a competition. And, if someone unseats Clifford, so be it. But, the key for Penn State is if that doesn’t happen, it has a fourth-year starter at the helm. Don’t forget that the Lions face a slate that includes early trips to Purdue, Auburn, and Michigan to start the 2022 season.
In other words, Clifford can help himself by returning. Penn State receives a boost because of it, as well.
“It’s not just getting drafted,” Franklin said. “It’s being prepared so when you do get drafted, you got your best chance to make the team. I think what Kenny Pickett did at Pitt helps some of these guys to say maybe coming back makes sense. And, how great is that going to be for our quarterbacks that are returning in Christian Veilleux as well as the quarterbacks we signed in this class?
“To be able to train and study and learn behind a veteran quarterback, because I think Sean prepares for the game of football in terms of how to watch film and how to study plays as well as anybody and study defenses, that’ll be a tremendous opportunity for these young quarterbacks to learn from him from another year.”
Penn State finishes the 2021 season with a trip to the Outback Bowl. It will face Arkansas in Tampa, Fla., on New Year’s Day. Kickoff is set for Noon ET on ESPN.
