Starting QB for Penn State still a mystery

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Just who will take the first snap behind center Saturday for No. 19 Penn State remains a mystery.

It could be Kevin Newsome. Or Matt McGloin. Or Robert Bolden. And even then, whoever starts the season opener against Youngstown State likely won’t play the entire game anyway.

Coach Joe Paterno still didn’t know Tuesday what he was going to do. Honest.

He does promise that he’ll be down on the sideline for his 45th season as the lead Nittany Lion. He said he hasn’t missed a play of preseason camp after intestinal ailments forced him to skip out on some offseason appearances.

But he said the decision on who he’ll send out as his starting quarterback is still a day or two away.

“We’ll probably play a couple kids. You just don’t know what you’re going to get, because none of them have been through a lot of pressure, so we’ll see what happens,” Paterno said.

Out of eligibility, two-year starter Daryll Clark left Happy Valley with his imprint all over the school record book. He set school highs for most touchdowns in a season and a career, as well as most career rushing scores by a quarterback.

The polished Clark had a charismatic personality that provided seasoned leadership for Penn State’s offense.

Now Paterno has the exact opposite situation at the most important position on the field.

Newsome, a sophomore, was highly touted out of high school but played sparingly last season as Clark’s top backup. McGloin, another sophomore, played even less as the third-stringer.

Bolden, a highly recruited freshman, has reportedly impressed most on the practice field after enrolling in school over the summer. He’s ahead of another top freshman recruit, Paul Jones, who enrolled in January, but will likely redshirt.

Experience, or lack thereof, is a big concern for Paterno. With a trip to top-ranked Alabama looming in Week 2, Penn State would be wise to build up as much confidence as possible in the quarterback — or quarterbacks.

Peppered with quarterback questions through his 40-minute news conference, Paterno in part said he doesn’t want to put too much pressure on any of his candidates.