Penn State backup quarterback Will Levis has entered the transfer portal the redshirt sophomore announced on Thursday evening.
“I can’t thank Coach Franklin and the rest of the Penn State Football staff, both past and present, enough for everything they’ve done to help to develop me both as a player and as a human being.” Levis said on Twitter.
Levis leaves Penn State as quarterback Sean Clifford stands poised for his third-straight year as a starter with more eligibility in front of him. Levis briefly earned the starting nod in 2020 as Clifford struggled with turnovers and accuracy but Levis provided little in the way of a substantial upgrade in the backfield and was – to a certain extent – more of a running back that could throw more than anything fully realized as a quarterback.
Through two years in State College, Levis racked up 133 rushing attempts for 473 yards and six touchdowns while attempting 102 passes, completing 61 for 644 yards, three of those completions resulting in touchdowns.
Penn State now has three scholarship quarterbacks on its roster, following the departure of Levis and freshman Micah Bowens. Ta’Quan Roberson and incoming freshman Christian Veilleux are currently the only signal callers behind Clifford on Penn State’s depth chart.
In turn with none of those quarterbacks more experienced than a redshirt freshman, it would seem likely that James Franklin and his staff would look to the transfer portal yet again – this time for a quarterback, if for no other reason than to provide Clifford with a more experienced backup or to compete for the starting job itself. Who might be interested in that role is unclear at this time. Former Ohio State and now former Miami quarterback Tate Martell recently entered the portal but did not have Penn State in his final list of schools during his original recruitment.
In either case, new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich will have a busy offseason to deal with as he looks to round Clifford back into his 2019 form, and bring a room of young quarterbacks up to speed.
