Ranking the Big Ten’s starting quarterbacks heading into 2022
6. Sean Clifford-Penn State
For what seems like the millionth season, Sean Clifford will be the starting QB in Happy Valley. We all know what Clifford is at this point, an above-average QB that traditionally struggles in primetime, but can win you 8-10 games just because he’ll give it his all.
Out of all the QBs in the Big Ten (besides Michigan’s) I’d want Clifford just because he has heart and grit. I may be crazy for saying that, but sometimes, you need those guys on your squad. He’s a leader. He may not be the best QB in the Big Ten but the guy will stand in the pocket, take a shot, and keep getting up over and over even when you want him to just leave the game.
With all of that being said, I expect Penn State and Clifford to hover right around the 7-9 win column. I don’t expect Penn State to contend for the Big Ten East because they lost a lot of good players on their great defense from last year, and they lost Jahan Dotson.
They did bring in a top-5 recruiting class for 2022, but those guys are freshmen, and 90-95% of those guys won’t see the field much in Year 1. So Clifford is a good QB (who gets too much hate), but is nothing special, and hovers just outside the top-5 of my list.
5. Taulia Tagovailoa-Maryland
Taulia Tagovailoa scares the heck out of me. So does Maryland as a team. If he could cut down on his turnover rate, and if Maryland’s defense could be even average-to-above average, and the team had fewer injuries, Maryland would be scary, as I wrote about here.
Last year, Taulia threw for 3,860 yards, 26 touchdowns, and11 interceptions, and ran for two scores as well. That is great production for a bottom-tier Big Ten team like Maryland.
We know what Maryland’s offense is: potent. They can put up points in a hurry, as they run a spread offense and are a baby Ohio State in the Big Ten. They don’t really run the ball, and when they do, they aren’t effective at it.
Taulia would be higher on the list if he could cut back on his turnovers.