Best Penn State football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore

At 6-foot, 202 pounds, quarterback Trace McSorley never wholly looked the part of a great college football quarterback when he got off the bus. But games aren’t played in the parking lot and McSorley is a shining example. Built with a gamer’s mentality and uncanny grit and toughness, the quarterback entrenched himself in the fabric of Penn State football throughout his career.

McSorley took over as the Nittany Lions starter as a sophomore and made an immediate impact as a tough-minded dual-threat quarterback. That year, he threw for 3,614 yards, 29 touchdowns and only eight interceptions while rushing for 365 yards and seven scores. Still working with Saquon Barkley, he came up the next year with a just-as-impressive campaign, throwing for 3,570 yards and 28 scores along with 491 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns there.

After the departure of Barkley for the NFL, McSorley was the focal point of the offense in 2018. He took a step back as a passer as he threw for only 2,530 yards and 18 touchdowns but he took it upon himself to keep the team afloat, shown by his 798 rushing yards and 12 rushing scores on the year. It was another testament to what a gamer he was.

The conclusion of his college career saw McSorley finish as the Penn State career leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and total offensive yards and touchdowns. While also ranking in the top 10 in career rushing touchdowns, he’s one of the most important Nittany Lions in the modern era of the program.