Penn State still looking for starting QB

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, PA.

Penn State ended spring practice Saturday the way it began a month ago: without a starting quarterback.

Rob Bolden started the rain-shortened Blue-White game and failed to complete all five of his pass attempts. Matt McGloin threw the only touchdown.

Three other quarterbacks took snaps, though coach Joe Paterno said the field has been cut to the two who split the position last season. And apparently, there’s no rush to choose a starter before the fall.

“Both those kids, I would say it’s 99 percent sure it’s one of the two kids,” Paterno said. “I’m very comfortable with the quarterback situation. Now which one starts, we’ll sit down as a staff next week.”

That’s not to say that he’ll have the same cast of quarterbacks to choose from when the Nittany Lions reconvene in August for preseason camp.

Bolden got turned down for a transfer by Paterno earlier this year, leaving the rising sophomore little choice but to participate in spring drills.

Coaches have been very pleased with his effort this spring, and Bolden said Saturday he thinks he’s had a fair shot at the starting job.

But he also doesn’t know yet whether he’ll be back this fall. He plans to finish the semester first and sit down with his family.

“Closer? Yes. Final, no,” Bolden said when asked if he was close to a decision. “Now that the spring game is out of the way, I’ve still got three weeks left in the semester. I’ve still got time to play with.”

Quarterback Kevin Newsome, too, is weighing whether to transfer. In a year’s time, the former touted recruit went from the presumed replacement for 2009 starter Daryll Clark [Ursuline] to the third-stringer behind Bolden and McGloin.

Bolden was calm and stoic answering questions from a horde of media. Newsome was emotional, his eyes appearing to tear up at times as he spoke about his future.

“I’ll love Penn State until the day I die ... I love the tradition. I love the respect we get here, and I just want to say that I have no grudge against Penn State,” Newsome said.