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Penn State Football: 5 reasons Trace McSorley could win the 2017 Heisman Trophy
Penn State football has an exhilarating signal caller in Trace McSorley. Paired with Saquon Barkley and the returning production, he'll have a shot at the 2017 Heisman.
Penn State football made a gigantic leap from mediocre bowl participant to national title contender in just one season. Quarterback Trace McSorley's play was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, reasons for the turnaround.
McSorley's scrambling ability and big-play arm added a dynamic element to a previously stumbling offense. It became evident during the Nittany Lions' 11-3 season that McSorley could ignite the offense at any moment. His swagger and drive to keep them in the game has a similar feel to past signal callers that won the award.
In his first season under center, he threw for 3,614 yards, 29 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He was also the team's second-leading rusher with 365 yards and seven touchdowns. A major positive in McSorley's corner was the offense's rise under him in comparison to Christian Hackenberg.
In 2015, the offense was stagnant averaging just 348.4 yards per game and averaging 5.5 yards per play. With McSorley, the offense became diversified and efficient. They averaged 435.6 yards per game and 6.6 yards per play. The difference really came in his mobility. The Nittany Lions took less sacks and created plays out of the zone read.
I'm going to take a look at why the up-and-coming Penn State quarterback could shock the nation and contend for the 2017 Heisman Trophy. It won't be an easy path, but McSorley has what it takes to be one of college football's greats next season.
Nov 12, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) runs over Indiana Hoosiers defenders to score a touchdown during the first quarter of the game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
5. Heisman highlight creator
Every Heisman winner has a moment sports channels play over and over again. Johnny Manziel had the bobbled touchdown pass at Alabama. Lamar Jackson had the B-button touchdown run at Florida State. Marcus Mariota had the comeback in the opener against Michigan State. Not all Heisman winner have a moment like this, but it's usually a part of the journey.
McSorley was no different in his sophomore season. He completed so many memorable deep balls on defenses and ripped off key runs out of the zone read. He would cap all those plays with his signature home run celebration.
This isn't the biggest of reasons why McSorley will be a candidate. However, Heisman players always have that lightning-in-a-bottle feel to them. McSorley embodies this, and its evident by his home run-type plays. It's also why almost seven of his receivers averaged nearly 15 or more yards per catch, but there's bigger reasons why he'll be a player to watch.
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) throws a pass under pressure from USC Trojans linebacker Michael Hutchings (19) during the 103rd Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. USC defeated Penn State 52-49 in the highest scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
4. Starting experience
McSorley was a star in his first year, but he made his fair share of mistakes. Whether it be the three interceptions in the Rose Bowl or the game-sealing interception against Pitt, he went through growing pains.
No quarterback can play a flawless game every outing. Nevertheless, with 14 starts under his belt, he should reduce his mistakes. The final pick he threw against USC was a rookie mistake. Tied 49-49 with less than 40 seconds to play, he fired up a deep ball into double coverage. The Trojans picked it off and returned it almost into field goal range.
The typical coaching cliché here is "live to fight another down". If he threw that ball away and the Nittany Lions pin USC deep, They might've made it to overtime. Regardless, he played on big stages and that experience in the Rose Bowl, the Big Ten Championship, versus Ohio State and at Michigan will help him.
3. Returning receiver production
McSorley with have a bevy of returning talent to help him get the trophy. Penn State built its high-flying passing game through burners on the outsides and a tight end hammer in the middle. All but one of those players return for the 2017 season. Leading receiver Chris Godwin declared for the NFL, but the rest of the receiving production is back.
Tight end Mike Gesicki returns after snaring 48 passes for 679 yards and five touchdowns. He's the thunder in this lightning fast offense. His presence in the middle of the field caused defenses to leave the speedsters on the outside open. He's also a deep threat himself with his 6-foot-6, 250-pound frame.
The receiving group is deep, fast and experienced. DaeSean Hamilton, DeAndre Thompkins and Saeed Blacknall are all back. Hamilton caught 34 passes for 506 yards and a touchdown. He's the best returning wide receiver in terms of production. He's started all three seasons and will be a big returner this year.
Blacknall and Thompkins are the field stretchers. They caught just 42 combined passes but for 787 yards and four touchdowns. They averaged 18.7 yards per reception. This deep group gives McSorley an opportunity to perform at a high level in 2017.
January 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Southern California Trojans defense during the second half of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
2. Saquon Barkley
Speaking of Heisman Trophy candidates, Saquon Barkley was on the radar for the illustrious award long before McSorley was. He's the most exciting running back in college football. He can cut, and then accelerate to full speed almost instantly. He's got great hands and provides a perfect backfield compliment for Penn State and McSorley.
Defensive coordinators fear his game-breaking speed so much that they'll stack the box and allow the Nittany Lions to throw. With Hackenberg, it was easy stack the box and pressure the quarterback, because he can't scramble. With McSorley, if you shoot up field he'll make you pay.
Furthermore, the zone read became deadly because of the tandem. If you key on Barkley, McSorley's 4.5 40-yard dash speed will kill you. If you key on McSorley, Barkley will slash you for chunk gains or even a back-breaking touchdown.
An underrated skill for Barkley is his hands. He's recorded 48 catches in his first two years for 563 yards and five touchdowns. If he gets out on a flare route or a wheel, he can make a man miss and go for a score.
1. The Offensive System
The biggest reason McSorley will be a Heisman candidate is the Nittany Lions' aggressive offensive approach. Offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead littered secondaries with gos and posts. If it's a 50-50 ball downfield, Moorhead wants it. The sophomore signal caller mixed with Moorhead and big-time playmakers were a match made in heaven.
McSorley's huge arm and Penn State's talented high jumpers on the outside made 50-50 balls become more like 80-20. The team never felt like it was out of game because they could spread teams out and score points by the bucket load.
Moorhead will have a more experienced offense at all levels next year. They'll put up huge numbers and score tons of touchdowns. McSorley will benefit from all of that. Penn State used to be old-fashioned offensively. It's the reason they've had so many running backs drafted and in the Heisman conversation. Now, McSorley is the headliner, and he'll be a forced to reckoned with in 2017.
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