Nittany Lions Football: Clifford, Beau, Robinson, Or Pribula?

The Nittany Lions are looking for a new addition to their team. With three freshmen in the mix, it could be a difficult decision. But if you’re interested in the lions’ future, there are plenty of options available. Consider Clifford, Beau, Michael Robinson, or Pribula.

Pribula

In the early stages of his Nittany Lion career, Beau Pribula has been making headlines. The in-state quarterback has a career record of 60% completions in his first seven games and has been a standout since he transferred from York High School. At the end of his sophomore season, Pribula passed for 4,444 yards and 48 touchdowns on just 18 attempts. At Penn State, he has already made his childhood dream come true, earning a scholarship offer in late March.

Pribula played safety as an underclassman and then shifted to the quarterback position for his sophomore season. As a senior, Pribula led Central York to its first state championship game and earned Player of the Year honors. In the same season, he rushed for 298 yards and added 10 touchdowns on 58 attempts. Pribula has drawn comparisons to former Penn State star Trace McSorley. However, he is substantially larger than McSorley was when he first joined the Penn State football team.

Clifford

The early years of Sean Clifford’s Nittany-Lion career were less than stellar. Clifford struggled to hold down the starting job and struggled with a new offense. He led the Nittany Lions to their worst start in school history. But Clifford looked different in the second half of the season, limiting his mistakes and showing improvement.

Clifford will be making his 39th start as a Nittany Lion this Saturday. The Lions are up against a tough schedule, including games against No. 5 Michigan and No. 10 Penn State. Clifford has a career completion percentage of 60 percent and is undefeated in three starts against Michigan. The coaches are counting on Clifford to lead the team against a tough schedule.

Michael Robinson

While Robinson’s college career may be over, his impact on Penn State football continues to resonate. His 2005 season was his best, earning him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors and Maxwell Award watch lists. He finished with 2,350 yards passing on 162 completions and 17 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions. Only three Penn State quarterbacks had better numbers – Tony Sacca in 1991, Zack Mills in 2002 and Kerry Collins in 1994.

Robinson’s junior season marked a transition from his early running back role to more of a pass-catcher. He started eight games and led the Nittany Lions in receiving yards, with 485. He also added 172 rushing yards on 49 carries. In addition to his receiving yards, Robinson passed for 119 yards on just ten of his 17 attempts.

Beau Pribula

Newcomer Beau Pribula will get an early start in his Nittany Lion career, but he’ll face a long winter workout schedule and 15 spring practice sessions. The spring season culminates in Beaver Stadium with the annual Blue-White Game. Pribula and Allar both committed to Penn State over two years ago, but many observers believe Pribula was a better choice because of his speed and versatility.

Pribula will begin his junior year at Central York High School in the fall, but his family is already committed to Penn State. He grew up in a PSU household, wearing Nittany Lions mini-uniforms in neighborhood football games. As a sophomore, Pribula verbally committed to the university, and before his junior year, he announced his decision publicly. The following season, Pribula led Central York to their first state championship game, earning Player of the Year honors in Pennsylvania. The next year, he topped the school’s record with 2,676 passing yards.

Stacy Collins

Collins is no stranger to the college game, having played linebacker at the University of Oregon in the mid-1990s. His coaching experience has also been extensive, ranging from Western Oregon to Utah State to Boise State. He has also served as a head coach at the South Dakota School of Mines and has experience working with special teams and linebackers.

Collins, a former special teams coordinator, has 24 years of collegiate coaching experience. Previously, he worked with Boise State as their special teams coordinator. In addition to his role as a special teams coordinator, Collins also serves as the outside linebackers and nickels coach.