Penn State Football: Franklin Expecting Fully Healthy Clifford for Ohio State Game

Penn State coach James Franklin says the Nittany Lions are expecting a fully healthy Sean Clifford this weekend as the Nittany Lions face Ohio State in Columbus on Saturday.

“We expect to have a 100-percent Sean Clifford this weekend,” Franklin said during his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

The three-year starter struggled mightily in Penn State’s eventual nine-overtime loss to Illinois this past Saturday and was clearly not himself. Clifford had sustained an injury in the first half of Penn State’s loss to Iowa two weeks prior and did not return to that game.

The clearly hobbled quarterback managed just 19-for-34 passing for 165 yards and was held to negative rushing yards for just the second time in his career. Additionally, 42 of those 165 yards through the air came on a single completion to receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

Clifford was sacked four times during the game and only attempted a single rush from scrimmage which gained negative two yards as he slid to the ground.

“He was limited, obviously, in what he could do and we tried to limit it as much as we could, as well,” Franklin added. “Obviously, that was the challenge. When you got a guy like Sean and that’s a big part of what he does and how he plays, that (his running) being limited obviously impacted him and us.

“That’s a big part of Sean, and what his game is, his ability to extend plays, his ability to keep the defense honest and be able to make a play or two throughout the game where he picks up a first down with his legs,” Franklin said.

Clifford said after the game that he was not limited but that was clearly not the case on Saturday each and every time he opted to throw and the simple fact he was never a threat in the running game.

Penn State is a three-touchdown underdog to No. 5 ranked Ohio State. Clifford, an Ohio native, was held out of Penn State’s last trip to Columbus due to injury.

The Nittany Lions will then face Maryland before returning to State College to host Michigan on Nov. 13. The Wolverines are currently ranked No. 6 in the nation.

Penn State also hosts Rutgers on Nov. 20 before wrapping up the regular season at No. 8 Michigan State a week later.