2019 Big Ten football spring preview: 7 biggest questions – Finally Jim Harbaugh’s year?

4. What is the state of Penn State’s offense without Trace McSorley?

Thanks to some solid recruiting over the past few years, Penn State has some solid young players with a lot of potential, who will be looking for bigger roles starting in the spring. Graduations and departures have left Penn State with some questions to answer, however, heading into the next season, and those will begin to be answered in the spring.

Perhaps the most burning of these questions for the Nittany Lions starts under center. Penn State remains with a few options at the quarterback spot. Though Head Coach James Franklin has said in the past that senior quarterback Tommy Stevens will be the go-to guy following the departure of the NFL-bound Trace McSorley, other players will find themselves with an opportunity to compete in the spring.

Sean Clifford and Will Levis are the two that come to mind most immediately for this competition unless early-enrollees Michael Johnson Jr and Taquan Roberson show incredible abilities in spring camp. The latter two players may benefit from redshirting a season, however, leaving Levis and Stevens to battle for the first spot on the depth chart.

Stevens is a dual-threat quarterback that has waited patiently in the wings so far in his Penn State career, and many think that this year is his opportunity to shine, with James Franklin himself even stating how much he admires Stevens on several occasions.

McSorley broke several records in his time with the Nittany Lions, but Stevens has the ability, as a 6-foot-5, 240-pound dual-threat quarterback, to come in and shine in his last year of college.

Will Levis may get a shot at taking the mantle if he can out-perform Stevens in spring ball, but whatever the outcome, this could be one of the most fun quarterback competitions to watch ahead of the new season.