James Franklin opened the door for a starting quarterback competition on Saturday.
That doesn’t mean he’s slammed it in the face of Trace McSorley.
It was McSorley, after all, who threw for two touchdowns and 142 yards against Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl after two years as Christian Hackenberg’s understudy.
But it is to serve notice that rising sophomore Tommy Stevens and brand-new freshman Jake Zembeic have a shot at being Penn State’s No. 1 in 2016 as well, with the Sept. 3 season-opener against Kent State 223 days away.
At least that’s what Franklin said on a conference call with reporters this weekend.
“… it’ll be an open competition,” said Franklin.
“I know that experience gave [Trace] some confidence moving into the off-season. But the quarterback position as well as every position will be open for true competition to see who’s going to give us the best opportunity to be successful on Saturdays.”
For Penn State, it’s a whole new ball game at quarterback. With former Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead now the offensive coordinator and QB coach, the Nittany Lions will be learning and installing a new up-tempo, spread offense.
In addition, it will be the first time in 51 games that neither Hackenberg nor Matt McGloin, two NFL-caliber quarterbacks, will be starting under center. And, three seasons and 27 games into the Franklin Era, it will be the first time that one of the head coach’s own QB recruits will start a game. In fact, dating back to his days at Vanderbilt, in five seasons and 65 games as a head coach, Franklin has had a quarterback he brought into the program earn just three starts (Vanderbilt’s Patton Robinette in 2013).
With the hiring of Moorhead, an advantage McSorley had running No. 2 behind Hackenberg – and knowing Penn State’s offense, however ineffective – has now largely disappeared.
Franklin’s words on Saturday had to be music to Stevens’ ears. Zembeic’s, too.
THE STEVENS SCOUTING REPORT
Stevens, now more than ever, has a shot at being the Nittany Lions’ starter next season.
As much as tight end Mike Gesicki likes what rising junior McSorley brings to the table, he knows better than most what Stevens offers. He not only sees Stevens in the weight room and practice field, but in their on-campus apartment as well.
“Young Tommy Stevens — you can’t forget about him,” said Gesicki at Penn State’s bowl media day in State College in December. “I have a good relationship with him. He’s my roommate. It’ll be a good competition next year.”
Here’s Gesicki’s scouting report on Stevens:
“He’s a good kid, he wants to learn, he’s a competitor,” Gesicki said. “He’s always in Lasch. I was just in there last night and he and Juwan (Johnson, the rising sophomore wide receiver) were there watching film. He’s definitely a guy who wants to learn and get better. He’s excited for the future and get out on the field – next year or the year after.
“I live with him, so I see a side of Tommy no one else sees. When he is not doing football or watching film, he is planted on the couch, in front of the TV, playing Xbox for about six hours. He doesn’t really move, unless I say, ‘Hey Tommy, want to go get some food?’ Then he’ll hop up and munch with me.”
Stevens’ favorite game? “Call of Duty.”
Stevens’ other teammates, both past and present, also have good things to say about him:
Tight end Brent Wilkerson: “I like our chances with Trace or Tommy, whoever takes over the reins. Obviously, they both can run the ball and pass the ball. It’s a mixture of using both to their advantage. Both guys have bright futures here.”
Offensive tackle Andrew Nelson: “Tommy is more of your standard typical quarterback. Big guy, really good arm, heavier kind of guy. He can also get you with his legs. He’s very athletic. I wouldn’t say he has quite the competitive attitude Trace has, but that kid works his butt off. It’s awesome to see him in the developmental scrimmages with the younger players. He leads that group. And he takes it very seriously. That’s what is very good about him. He is determined to do the best he can and to lead his unit to do the best they can.”
Linebacker Troy Reeder, who has transferred to Delaware: “Tommy is an athletic guy. Tall, rangy. He put on a lot of muscle this season. He’s used his redshirt season really well. I’m anxious to see how both of them (Stevens and McSorley) grow.”
STEVENS’ STATS
Stevens was a Penn State redshirt freshman in 2015, who flipped to Penn State from Indiana in November 2014 after Brandon Wimbush flopped from Penn State to Notre Dame in October 2014. Stevens had a productive first year at Penn State, even though he never played a down in a game. At 6-foot-4, Stevens came to Penn State with a listed weight of 186. By the TaxSlayer Bowl roster was released, he had rocketed up to 211 pounds. Following Penn State’s 2015 season, Stevens was selected as a scout team player of the year.
Stevens’ high school stats at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis break down this way:
2013 (jr., 10 games) – Passing: 97 of 197 (49.2%) for 1,526 yards, 13 TDs, 5 int. Running: 109 carries for 785 yards, 7.2-yard ave., 7 TDs.
2014 (sr., 11 games) – Passing: 126 of 212 (59.4%) for 1,891 yards, 16 TDs, 6 int. Running: 172 carries for 842 yards, 4.9-yard ave., 10 TDs.
H.S. career (23 games) – Passing: 223 of 409 (54.5%) for 3,417 yards, 29 TDs, 11 int. Rushing: 281 carries for 1,627 yards, 5.8-yard ave., 17 TDs.
ZEMBIEC’S STATS
Zembeic (6-3, 202) enrolled in Penn State in early January, at the start of spring semester. He’s coming off a 13-0 season for Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y., having led them to the state title, matching the same feat he accomplished as a sophomore in 2013. Here are his high school numbers:
2012 (frosh., 11 games) – Passing: 82 of 149 (55%) for 1,061 yards, 6 TDs, 14 int. Rushing: 26 carries for minus 43 yards, minus 1.7-yard ave.
2013 (soph., 13 games) – Passing: 132 of 233 (59.2%) for 1,932 yards, 26 TDs, 7 int.. Rushing: 43 carries for 231 yards, 5.4-yard ave., 3 TDs.
2014 (jr., 3 games) – Passing: 14 of 29 (48.3%) for 375 yards, 7 TDs, 0 int. Rushing: 6 carries for 15 yards, 2.5-yard ave..
2015 (sr., 13 games) – Passing: 184 of 269 (68.4%) for 3,030 yards, 37 TDs, 7 int. Rushing: 65 carries for 271 yards, 4.2-yard ave., 2 TDs.
H.S. career (40 games) – Passing: 412 of 670 (61.5%) for 6,398 yards, 76 TDs, 28 int. Rushing: 142 carries for 472 yards, 3.3-yard ave., 5 TDs.
