Running back Miles Sanders is with the Philadelphia Eagles, and quarterback Trace McSorley is attempting to make the Baltimore Ravens.
Without those two dynamic playmakers on offense, No. 15 Penn State will unveil a new starting quarterback along with a new top running back in the team’s season opener Saturday afternoon against visiting Idaho.
Sanders rushed for nine touchdowns and 1,274 yards while McSorley completed 53.2 percent of his passes for 2,530 yards and 18 touchdowns as Penn State went 9-4 last season.
The main running back this year is Ricky Slade, who rushed for 257 yards and six TDs last season, while Sean Clifford will be the starting quarterback.
Clifford, who won a competition with freshman Will Levis to get the job, was considered the favorite after Tommy Stevens decided to transfer to Mississippi State following Penn State’s spring practice. Clifford saw limited playing time last season, completing 5 of 7 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
“The experience factored in,” Penn State coach James Franklin said of naming Clifford the starting quarterback. “When it’s close like that, you’re always going to go with the older, more experienced player, and that’s really what Sean is. He’s done a great job.”
One of Clifford’s receiving targets will be KJ Hamler, who was a revelation with 754 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 42 receptions as a freshman.
Penn State has won 15 of its past 17 season openers and six straight home openers, though the Nittany Lions would like to avoid what unfolded in last year’s first game against Appalachian State. In the season opener in 2018, Penn State blew a pair of 14-point leads, then trailed by seven with less than two minutes remaining before getting a 45-38 overtime win.
Penn State is facing its first FCS opponent since beating Indiana State in 2011.
Idaho finished 4-7 last season in its first season back in the FCS. The Vandals return 13 starters, including quarterback Mason Petrino and wideout Jeff Cotton. Petrino threw for 1,938 yards and 15 TDs last season while Cotton had seven TDs and totaled 656 receiving yards.
“You never get everything done that you want, but coming out of camp, I’m pleased,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “Guys that were new got a ton of reps and understand the system way better. Our overall effort, attitude and toughness improved greatly. I like the chemistry of this team, and I like the leadership of this team.”
Mason Petrino and Colton Richardson are expected to platoon at quarterback early on, but Paul Petrino hopes to name a starter in a few weeks.
Idaho, projected to finished in the middle of the 13-team Big Sky Conference, had one of the league’s worst defenses in 2018. The Vandals allowed a whopping 37.5 points per game a year ago and ranked near the bottom of the league in both pass defense and run defense.
Last season, Idaho allowed 79 points in its season opener to Fresno State. The Vandals also surrendered at least 40 points five times in 2018.
