With the Blue-White Game in the books, all we can do is reflect. Many questions were answered while some were not. With the season opener on Sept. 5 now four months away, it’s time to start looking at position battles for the Nittany Lions.
In today’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we’ll take a closer look at the battle for backup quarterback, check out where the undrafted Nittany Lions landed and feature another member of the Class of 2009.
First, the QBs.
The Race for Reserve
The race for backup is on.
The transfer of Pat Devlin last December left a gaping hole at backup quarterback. At the Blue-White Game on April 25, the Nittany Lions auditioned quarterbacks for the backup role.
If the annual scrimmage was any indication, the prospects look good.
Many of the 76,500 in attendance wanted to see true freshman Kevin Newsome. The four-star quarterback had a solid afternoon, completing
9-of-13 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Also in the race is walk-on Matt McGloin. He also had a solid afternoon, completing
9-of-13 passes for 111 yards and two TDs.
Oh, it’s a race. And according to quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, it’s a race that may not be determined for some time.
“We have told you guys a lot, we have two quarterbacks that can play well behind Daryll Clark,” Paterno said. “Things were basic defensively, but they all did some really nice things. I am pretty happy.”
While the race will continue this summer and into preseason practice, Paterno was asked who would get the backup job if it were September, not April.
Paterno said that Newsome would get the job, but not by much.
“Newsome would be two if we were to play tomorrow and McGloin would be two-A,” Paterno said. “They’re both competing. There’s nothing set in stone.”
Newsome, a four-star QB according to rivals.com, was considered by many to be the heavy favorite heading into the scrimmage. However, McGloin was impressive. The West Scranton High School product had some zip on his ball and showed an ability to scramble, taking off on a 28-yard run that help set up the game-winning score.
McGloin realizes that while Newsome is getting much of the attention, he’s quietly flying under the radar. He opened some eyes at the Blue-White Game, though.
“I was really excited to get out here and showcase my abilities, show everybody what I can do,” McGloin said. “I’m glad I made the most of my opportunity.”
Newsome’s development has been impressive, though. Considering that he should be a senior in high school right now, his progression has been fast and furious.
“He has done really well so far,” Paterno said. “You keep reminding yourself that he should be a senior in high school right. When he was in high school, he wasn’t in an offense that had a lot of passing so there wasn’t a whole lot of exposure. He has picked it up pretty quickly.”
McGloin has a slight edge due to the fact that he practiced in Penn State’s system last season. Newsome is starting from scratch. However, this summer could be the great equalizer.
Running back Evan Royster has been impressed with what he’s seen from the true freshman.
“He’s really come along,” Royster said. “When he got here, we could tell that he was just got out of high school. He’d throw the ball without making his reads. But he’s slowed himself down and he’s starting to look like a true college quarterback.”
Kevin Newsome will battle with Matt McGloin for the back up quarterback job.
(Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated).
Free Agents
With the NFL draft also in the books, several members of the Nittany Lions inked free agent deals. Here’s where your favorites landed:
Gerald Cadogan, Carolina; Maurice Evans, New York Giants; Josh Gaines, Philadelphia; Jordan Norwood, Cleveland; Tyrell Sales, Indianapolis; Lydell Sargeant, Buffalo; Anthony Scirrotto, Carolina; Tony Davis, Arizona; Mark Rubin, St. Louis; Dan Lawlor, Washington.
Being a free agent is never an easy proposition, but the guess here is that at least one or two of the aforementioned names will make an NFL roster.
Time will tell.
Frank Figureroa could be an underrated member of the Class of 2009.
(Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated).
Class of 2009: Frank Figueroa
Sometimes, being an unkown is a good thing.
Frank Figueroa was a literal unknown when he committed to Penn State last spring. There’s no getting around it, the Nittany Lions’ newest verbal wasn’t even a part of the Rivals.com database on May 15.
But the 6-foot-4, 282-pound prospect had held a written offer in hand for about two months before making his decision, and he quickly made a name for himself as the Nittany Lions’ sixth verbal commitment.
“I went up to a junior day up there on March 1, I believe, and that is where coach Johnson gave me the offer,” Figueroa said in his post-commitment interview. “Then, after that, I got to go up there for a spring practice, and I got to talk to coach Paterno more, and spent a lot of time with coach Anderson looking at the offensive guard position and centers. I went ahead and committed.”
Figueroa had offers from North Carolina and William and Mary, and also was picking up interest from Rutgers and Virginia, but decided to go ahead and commit before his recruitment could go any further.
He said that a Penn State degree was too tough to pass up.
“The main thing was definitely education. Their education is definitely top of the line,” Figueroa said. “They had what I want to study, which was a big thing. I either want to study business or criminal justice, and both of their departments are really good in both aspects. I know that education is just as important, actually more important, than football.
“The other thing was the coaching staff. It felt like a family — everyone knows everyone at Penn State. The coaches were real nice, and it just felt right. I had that feeling that it was where I wanted to go.”
He was selected first team All-National District for the second year in a row, and was a Washington Post all-Metro honorable mention. As a junior, he also earned Washington Post all-league honors.
In addition to lining up at right guard for the 12-1 Eagles, Figueroa carried the ball twice for 8 yards this season, including a touchdown run.
Chris Morelli is the award-winning editor of Blue White Illustrated, a weekly publication devoted to Penn State athletics. He is also a regular on “Sports Central,” which airs on ESPN Radio in Altoona and State College. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com. This column does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of BWI’s writers or publisher.
