McGloin looks for his shot at QB as Penn St. begins

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

The biggest question facing Penn State entering preseason camp is out of the way — coach Joe Paterno says he’s fine after fighting off a couple lingering ailments over the summer.

After trying to assure reporters of his health at Big Ten media days in Chicago, the 83-year-old Hall of Famer is set to start what he loves doing most. Coaching begins this week with the Nittany Lions opening preseason camp Thursday.

Which leads to the next biggest question a month before the season kicks off: Just who will take over at quarterback for two-year starter Daryll Clark?

Matt McGloin thinks he’s got a shot, even if the former walk-on was the third-stringer last year.

“You got to believe in yourself. I’m not coming here just to watch guys play for four years,” McGloin said at a July charity event.

McGloin figures to be an underdog to Kevin Newsome, a touted high school prospect who backed-up Clark last year as a freshman. Two more highly rated recruits, incoming freshmen Paul Jones and Robert Bolden, will also see preseason snaps.

But based simply on experience, Newsome and McGloin have head starts.

And no, quarterback coach Jay Paterno hasn’t offered a clue as to who is the leader between the two.

“Kevin took the [first team] in the spring and so did Matt,” said Jay Paterno, Joe’s son. “We haven’t really given anybody an edge.”

The quarterbacks and receivers had been getting together all summer for unofficial pass-and-catch sessions, trying to perfect timing and rhythm, hoping to gain advantages coming into camp.

A year ago, senior Clark was leading a new receiving corps. It’s the opposite this season, with receivers Derek Moye, Graham Zug and Brett Brackett helping to guide the signal-callers through their new responsibilities.

Moye described Newsome as being more athletic, while McGloin may have had an edge in pocket presence. He’s heard the scrutiny about Penn State’s quarterback situation.

“I’m not saying the quarterback who will take the spot is going to fill in for [Clark] right away,” said Moye, who had 48 catches for 785 yards and six touchdowns last year, “but I think they’ll do a good job doing that.”

If McGloin wins, it would be a story that would be hailed by underdogs. He starred at West Scranton High School and got offers from Patriot League schools Colgate and Lehigh, but was bypassed for scholarships by FBS schools before Penn State called with a walk-on offer.