What we learned about Christian Veilleux in a 28-0 Penn State win over Rutgers

STATE COLLEGE — Count out  Christian Veilleux from next season’s Penn State quarterback carousel at your own peril.

Pressed into action here on Saturday and playing through sickness as many of his teammates were — and also like a few who were not on the field– the first-year passer performed well in a 28-0 win over Rutgers.

Veilleux’s final stat line after replacing veteran starter Sean Clifford at the end of the first quarter featured 15 completions on 24 attempts for 235 yards and three scores. He also rushed 10 times for 36 yards in his first game action since a high school playoff game in 2019.

“He just keeps getting better,” head coach James Franklin said.

“I was proud of him. It’s just how poised he was today. Very poised, made some plays with his leg, made some big-time throws, made some checks. Obviously, it’s something to build on.”

Penn State does not allow first-year players to speak with the media, so instead of hearing from him, we’ll instead review his performance through the eyes and voices of others.

How did Veilleux end up in the game for Penn State?

As the Penn State practice week wound to a close, the flu had swept through various position rooms. It eventually hit the quarterbacks, and as of Friday, the Lions were planning on possibly starting walk-on Mason Stahl against the Scarlet Knights.

While third-string quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson was apparently not cleared to play, Veilleux, who was named the backup this week, eventually was. He led Penn State through pregame warmups as Clifford took fluids in the locker room. The third-year starter was eventually allowed to participate in Senior Day festivities and then started the game, but he clearly was hampered by both illness and a potential arm injury that popped up early.

After four drives and 23 passing yards, Franklin made the decision to make a switch. Clifford went to the locker room, Veilleux came in, and the rest, as they say, was history.

“I’m hopeful that this thing will run through its course on the team and we’ll have everybody back for next week, which we’re going to need to, and go from there,” Franklin said.

Receivers connected with Veilleux quickly

It was evident to anyone who watched, but for those who could not, one thing was clear: Teammates did not doubt Veilleux’s abilities.

While it did take time for him and the Penn State attack — which was down some offensive linemen — to settle in, once they did, things more or less ran smoothly. There were plenty of hiccups you’d expect in this kind of situation, of course, but by and large, Veilleux showed that he was plenty capable of guiding the offense.

“I talked to him a little bit, but he didn’t mean much from me,” receiver Jahan Dotson said. “He’s a baller. He’s ready was ready for the moment. He was just happy to be on the field.

“I’ve been practicing with him for months now. He’s a tremendous talent, has a tremendous arm, tremendous leadership skills; this was no surprise for me. I know that the kid he is. I can’t wait to see him develop and play in the future.”

Added receive Parker Washington:

“The first thing is just confidence. Over cam, spring ball, anything when we got chance to get work, he’s out there and he’s improving.”

What does Penn State do moving forward?

Obviously, Penn State is hopeful that Clifford can return and face Michigan State in next Saturday’s regular season finale. We likely won’t know that answer until closer to kickoff, however.

What we do know is that Veilleux performed well on Saturday in a situation when the Nittany Lions needed him to do it. Because of that, there should be a belief that he can compete for the top job moving forward, regardless of whether that means battling a returning Clifford, competing with a transfer portal addition if one is made, or taking on a pair of four-star incoming freshmen quarterback for the top spot in 2022.