Thursday, March 28, 2024
Home » News » Local & Penn State Sports » Penn State Football Appears Set to Go with Roberson or Veilleux Against Illinois

Penn State Football Appears Set to Go with Roberson or Veilleux Against Illinois

no description

Penn State appears set to face Illinois this weekend without the services of quarterback Sean Clifford, according to remarks by coach James Franklin on Tuesday. Clifford sustained an injury in the second quarter of the Nittany Lions’ 23-20 loss to Iowa two weeks ago and returned to the sideline in street clothes.

First-team reps will be split this week between backup Ta’Quan Roberson and freshman Christian Veilleux, Franklin said. The coach did not explicitly state that Clifford would not play this weekend, but did not give any indication that the three-year starter was ready to return to play.

“Will it be a competition? I think it’s always a competition, but it’s probably magnified a little bit,” Franklin told reporters during his weekly press conference. “We’re looking at those guys very closely in practice, and in the scrimmage periods, and things like that. We’ll split those reps between those two evenly, make it a competition.”

Roberson stands to be a bit better this week, if he were to get the starting nod, than he was in relief of Clifford two weeks ago. The redshirt sophomore went 7-of-21 through the air including two interceptions and generally lacked any of the production a Clifford-led offense had made through the first 20 or so minutes of play.

The question, of course, at this point in the week is when Penn State’s coaching staff will make its final decision with the starting role. While it seems likely that Roberson will get the nod, Franklin insisted that no decision had been made yet and that both players would get a fair shake.

“Obviously, no different than any other situation, you’d like to make the decision as early as you can,” Franklin said. “We’re not in a position to do that right now. So, those reps will be divided evenly, and once we know that it’s clear, then we’ll make the decision and go from there.”

As for Clifford, Franklin offered no real insight regarding his potential return, although the Nittany Lions would be well served to see him return by Oct. 30 when Penn State travels to face Ohio State in Columbus. But as for whether or not that will happen, Franklin was expectedly noncommittal on the timeline for Clifford’s return to play.

Before the battle with the Buckeyes, the Nittany Lions host the Illini, who are 2-5 with wins over Nebraska and Charlotte.

“As you know with Sean’s, he’s shown his toughness over the years. Coming over here to the press conference, I saw him in the facility,” Franklin added. “He kind of lives in there, watching film, and obviously now getting treatment, and doing everything he possibly can to put himself n the best position to get back as soon as possible, whenever that may be. He’s doing all the right things. Not surprised by that, and hopefully that will put him in the best position to come back as soon as possible.”

And 10 days from a trip to the state of Ohio, the Nittany Lions are hoping soon really is soon.