QBs set to battle at Penn State practice

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, PA.

Quinn Barham didn’t hear much from Penn State teammate Rob Bolden earlier this offseason, so he reached out to make sure the sophomore quarterback was OK and returning to Happy Valley.

Well, Bolden is back after toying with the idea of transferring, and he’s made it clear he wants his starting job back.

So does junior Matt McGloin, his chief competitor for the job.

It’s a rousing start to the Penn State quarterback derby — and coach Joe Paterno is still a month away from whistling the first practice into session.

“I was worried myself earlier this summer. His behavior was different. I thought he was leaving,” Barham, a senior left tackle, said. “He was a little distant, I didn’t know what was going on. But right now, I’m fine. He’s here, he’s happy.”

Bolden in 2010 became the first freshman quarterback to start a season opener in JoePa’s four-plus decades at Penn State.

McGloin ended the season as the starter after taking over for Bolden for good in early November, two weeks after Bolden was knocked out in a win over Minnesota with a concussion.

McGloin again pronounced himself as the man to beat. McGloin said he’s shaken off his five-interception performance in the 37-24 loss to Florida in the Outback Bowl in January.

“Absolutely, in my mind I am the guy to beat right now, it’s just the way I go about [things],” McGloin said. “Obviously there is an open competition, but I feel I’m going to go in there, and I’m going to perform well, and it’s going to be my job in the fall.”

Countered Bolden: “I feel like a starter. I feel like way more than that. I feel like the guy.”

Bolden said he was “totally for Penn State right now ... as far as the transferring thing goes, I’m not even thinking about it.”

And both candidates have indicated there are no harsh feelings between them about the competition, and that they are friendly off the field.

“I see both Rob and Matt really taking charge, both showing leadership skills up and front this year,” said tackle Eric Shrive,. “Going into camp, it’s going to be a really great battle between the two of them.”