Penn State QB McSorley’s vision sets senior apart
‘Playing against Trace is like a chess match’
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Trace McSorley can remember every single one of his losses. It helps that there aren’t many: McSorley lost five games as a four-year starter at Briar Woods High School in Ashburn, Virginia, and has dropped five games since taking over as Penn State’s starter in 2016, so a greater challenge might be asking the senior quarterback to remember in detail each of his wins.
A sharp memory is close to a prerequisite for any successful quarterback, and McSorley, like everyone else at the position, hones his through film study. He tries to mirror the same mind-set he brings to the line of scrimmage, starting with identifying the placement of the two safeties, then breaking down where the defense might bring pressure, then examining the de- fensive coverage. It’s “standard operating procedure,” McSorley said.
It might just be that McSorley looks at things a little bit differently than other quarterbacks. Penn State de-
fenders swear that during practice McSorley makes eye contact during his pre-snap progressions, a claim McSorley shrugs off with a laugh. But they do swear it, even asking the senior if they’re giving anything away. And he denies looking into their eyes. He is just processing the defense.
“Playing against Trace is like a chess match,” Penn State linebacker Koa Farmer said. “For me, half of defense is disguising. I don’t know what he sees. I don’t see the whole defense the way he does.”
To those closest to McSorley, the coaches and teammates who have seen his growth from three-star recruit to Heisman Trophy front-runner, there’s a simple explanation behind the senior’s success: The way he sees the game — the complexities, the challenges and the strategy, whether on the field or off — is simply different.
“Football just makes sense to him,” said James Franklin, who recruited McSorley to Penn State with little fanfare, as a late-in-the-game addition to the class inked in the small window between his arrival from Vanderbilt and national signing day.
“Let’s take math. For someone in that class, math just makes sense to them. It’s like ‘Beautiful Mind,’ they’re drawing stuff and it just makes sense to them. That’s how Trace is. The game makes sense to him. Concepts make sense to him. Timing makes sense to him. Spacing makes sense to him.”
McSorley has “incredible spatial awareness,” Penn State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ricky Rahne said. He also has great linear awareness, Rahne added, meaning an innate ability to quickly process his reads on a given passing play to make the right decision.
“That’s where he’s special,” Rahne said.
The numbers prove this point: McSorley has tossed 20 interceptions across his 960 career attempts with the Nittany Lions, or one per every 48 throws. The senior will face his stiffest test of the season in Saturday night’s marquee matchup with No. 4 Ohio State, which has allowed three passing touchdowns through four games.
“There’s a lot of times where I just have a good feel for where guys are, for where everyone was supposed to be and what windows were probably a little too small for me,” McSorley said.
The same vision that sets McSorley apart from his peers has come in handy for what lies ahead: Ohio State, a push for the Big Ten title, a spot in the College Football Playoff, Heisman contention and, with a little luck, the Nittany Lions’ first national championship since 1986.
The weekly scouting reports issued by McSorley’s coach at Briar Woods would always feature the same cover image: a set of stairs listing the teams already played, the upcoming opponent and the end goal — in that case, a state championship. Then, as now, it reminded McSorley to see his ultimate objective while keeping his vision on the present.
“I feel prepared,” he said. “How do you plan for that? Just like on a certain play, it’s focusing on what’s important. Being able to compartmentalize everything, being able to focus on what’s most important in that time and not worry about what’s going on outside or down the road.”