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2019 NFL Draft: Trace McSorley has most to prove of any QB

By Maxwell Ogden

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds the championship trophy after beating the Washington Huskies 35-28 in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds the championship trophy after beating the Washington Huskies 35-28 in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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2019 NFL Draft prospect Trace McSorley could be a first-round selection, but he could also be labeled as a product of Saquon Barkley if he fails to produce.

It would be nice if we could confidently state that the name on the front of the jersey doesn’t matter at the NFL Draft, but it can. It may not provide devastating damage to an individual’s stock, but it can lead to doubts that force said prospect to answer what should be unnecessary questions.

In the case of Trace McSorley, the name on the front of the jersey creates one simple question: Is he a legitimate NFL prospect or a product of his surroundings?

The Penn State Nittany Lions have won 11 games in each of the past two seasons. That’s certainly a feather in McSorley’s cap, as he’s been the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterbacks for every one of those games.

That includes the classic 2017 Rose Bowl encounter with the USC Trojans, and the 35-28 win over the Washington Huskies in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl.

During that time, McSorley has produced some of the most awe-inspiring statistics in the country. He’s thrown for 6,842 yards and 55 touchdowns to just 16 interceptions, and has run for an additional 796 yards and 11 scores.

McSorley also increased his completion percentage from 57.9 in 2016 to 65.3 in 2017, which displays growth as a quarterback.

As the 2018 season nears, however, McSorley will face more questions than some are letting on. The obvious one is if he was a product of Saquon Barkley, who was arguably the best running back in the country during his tenure in State College.

Barkley not only ran for upwards of 2,600 yards during McSorley’s two seasons at the helm, but amassed nearly 1,000 receiving yards and 43 total touchdowns from scrimmage.

Beyond the numbers, Barkley’s mere presence simplified the game for McSorley. Teams often stacked the box to stop the No. 2 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, which inevitably created opportunities for McSorley to go over the top of opposing defenses.

When all else failed, McSorley could drop the ball off to Barkley in the flat and watch as the most dynamic playmaker in the country went to work.

While Barkley’s presence was well-documented, it’s also worth noting that McSorley had two other NFL-caliber targets in the passing game. Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton pulled in seven touchdowns in 2017 and was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Tight end Mike Gesicki is one of the most athletic tight ends in NFL Combine history, and provided McSorley with a weekly matchup nightmare to target.

Unfortunately for McSorley, Gesicki was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. That could prove problematic since Barkley, Gesicki, and Hamilton combined for 19 of McSorley’s 26 passing touchdowns in 2017.

The question is: Can McSorley survive the departure of his three best playmakers to produce a strong enough season in 2018 to justify the 2019 NFL Draft hype?

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If Trace McSorley succeeds in doing so, there should be no questioning his validity as a prospect.

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