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Penn State football: Nittany Lions name Trace McSorley starting QB

By The Sports Xchange
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team enters the field before the start of their game against Ohio at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA on September 1, 2012. File photo Archie Carpenter/UPI
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team enters the field before the start of their game against Ohio at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA on September 1, 2012. File photo Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

Penn State football is going with Trace McSorley at quarterback.

Head coach James Franklin informed the team one day after a sitdown with McSorley in his office along with offensive coordinator John Moorhead.

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The competition at quarterback began in January, only days after all-time passing leader Christian Hackenberg announced he would enter the 2016 NFL Draft. Hackenberg was drafted by the New York Jets.

McSorley played the second half of Hackenberg's final college game because of a shoulder injury, and completed 14 of 27 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia.

McSorley won the job over redshirt sophomore Tommy Stevens, in part because of his offseason leadership.

"I think the biggest thing, and Tommy asked the same question, is that (Trace) has been the backup for two years," said Franklin. "He has game experience. There's value in that. There really is. You've been able to see it already. You're not projecting as much."

McSorley gathered teammates and worked with the team's strength staff during the NCAA coach-free window in the late spring and summer.

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Franklin said he wants a one-quarterback system that doesn't force the starter to look over his shoulder, but could still find a role for Stevens.

"It's an honor to be named a starting quarterback at Penn State," McSorley said. "Since the day I committed here, I've always kind of dreamed about it and thought about it. I mean, all of the great quarterbacks that have come out of Penn State, it's an honor to be included in that group."

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