Over the weekend. former Penn State football quarterback Sean Clifford was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the 149th overall pick in the 5th Round of the draft. For the former Nittany Lion starter, who is not the biggest or most talented quarterback to be drafted, he brings something that many quarterbacks — even in the NFL — do not possess: intelligence. According to Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur, Clifford’s intellect is what sold Green Bay on taking him in Round 5.

Former Penn State football quarterback brings an intellectual approach to the game

During his tenure at Penn State, Sean Clifford was both the subject of adoration and animosity among the fans. While he led the team to remarkable victories, including two 11-2 seasons and New Year’s Six bowl wins, his performance during the middle two seasons was lackluster. Clifford’s time as the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback had its ups and downs, and while he was not the team’s top quarterback, he was not solely responsible for their shortcomings in 2020 and 2021.

Despite some challenges with his athletic abilities, including inconsistent throws, Clifford’s intelligence on the field was never in question. Head coach James Franklin and sophomore quarterback Drew Allar both spoke highly of Clifford’s contributions during the 2022 season and praised his exceptional football IQ.

Out with the old, in with the new

With the Green Bay Packers losing their veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, there was a pressing need for greater football intelligence and knowledge in their young quarterbacks room. The departure of a seasoned quarterback like Rodgers, who has played with the team for over a decade, can cause a significant leadership vacuum and make it challenging for new players to adapt to the team’s culture and game strategy.

To fill this void, the Packers organization has been seeking quarterbacks with high football IQs who can effectively execute plays and make intelligent decisions on the field. In today’s NFL, having players who can quickly analyze complex situations and adjust game plans accordingly is critical to success. This means that the Packers need quarterbacks who are not only physically gifted but also possess the mental acuity to outthink and outsmart their opponents.

“We went through the meetings with him and were impressed by his football acumen and his overall intelligence,” LaFleur said after the Packers drafted Clifford.

More football IQ is a good thing for the Packers

In addition to having a high football IQ, the Packers’ new quarterbacks must be adaptable and versatile, with the ability to perform well in various game scenarios. As the Packers seek to replace their veteran quarterback, they will undoubtedly prioritize finding players who can make sound decisions, work collaboratively with the team, and execute plays with precision.

While Sean Clifford may never be an NFL starter, he should be able to compete for the QB2 role and bring a much-needed presence to the Packers’ roster due to his high football IQ and incredible amount of heart.

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The NFL Draft has concluded. James Franklin and his staff have earned the reputation as one of the top developers of NFL talent in college football. Penn State football joins Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama as the only four programs with at least five NFL draft picks in the last six NFL Drafts. This year, six Nittany Lions heard their names called on draft weekend. However, in today’s age of the transfer portal, the number of former Penn State football players selected in the NFL Draft climbs even higher. Here are some of the most notable Penn State transfer portal losses selected in a crazy 2023 NFL Draft. 

Former Penn State quarterback becomes biggest storyline of NFL Draft

The NFL Draft’s biggest storyline was the fall of former Penn State quarterback Will Levis. Levis, a three-star QB from Middletown, CT, committed to a crowded quarterback room filled with Trace McSorley, Tommy Stevens, and Sean Clifford in 2018. Clifford beat out Stevens for the starting job in 2019, leaving Levis as the backup. 

In 2020, Clifford struggled and faced injuries, creating a larger role for Levis. There was much debate about who should be the starting quarterback during Penn State’s tumultuous 2020 season. Ultimately, Clifford beat out Levis for the job, and Levis decided to take his talents to Kentucky.

Levis went 17-7 in his two seasons at Kentucky and led the Wildcats to heights the program has never seen before. During NFL Draft evaluations, Levis’s size and natural ability drew comparisons to Josh Allen. Last week, as rumors swirled that he would be drafted number one overall, most pundits expected Levis to be a high first-round pick. But surprisingly, Levis dropped a selection below Joey Porter Jr. and was drafted in the 2nd round (33rd overall) by the Tennessee Titans.

The media attention given to Levis’s fall was nothing short of brutal. The former Penn State quarterback was compared to Aaron Rodgers on ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Draft. Many brought up that Levis lost Penn State’s quarterback competition to Clifford. When Clifford was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, people touted him as “the quarterback that famously held off Will Levis.” 

Whether or not the Penn State fan base cares, Levis is a Nittany Lion. Levis graduated from Penn State in three years. Levis’s girlfriend (who also got a lot of media attention) is a Penn Stater. Penn State fans should root for Levis in the NFL.

"I stayed positive, and I knew what was meant to be, was going to happen. When I saw they traded up for me, that alone was telling me that they wanted me, they wanted this to happen."#Titans Select QB Will Levis in Second Round of NFL Draft

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) April 30, 2023

Top prospect from 2018 Penn State football recruiting class becomes mid-round selection

Penn State’s 2018 recruiting class might be its best ever. There were three five stars in class, including 2021’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Micah Parsons. One of these five stars was Justin Shorter, a 6-5 226-pound receiver from NJ who was expected to be a huge part of Penn State’s offenses. But Shorter never panned out at Penn State, recording only 166 yards from scrimmage on 16 players over two years in Happy Valley.

After the 2019 season, Shorter hit the transfer portal and headed to Florida. As a Gator, Shorter had 1,395 all-purpose yards and 8 touchdowns over three seasons. His size and speed combination made Shorter an excellent vertical threat in Gainesville. On Saturday, the Buffalo Bills selected Shorter in the 5th round to provide depth in a crowded receiver room that emphasizes the deep ball. 

Got ourselves another gator.

Welcome to Buffalo, @jshortz10! #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/OP8iE07feU

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 29, 2023

Massive Tight End from Happy Valley’s footprint gets drafted late

Another piece of Penn State’s historic 2018 recruiting class was tight end Zack Kuntz. A 6-7 258-pound tight end from Camp Hill, PA, Kuntz was ranked as the fourth-best tight end in the 2018 cycle. Kuntz was believed to be the next in line of great tight ends at Penn State, following in the footsteps of Mike Gesicki and Pat Freiermuth. 

This plan did not come to fruition, as Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson rose to the top of a crowded tight end room. Kuntz decided to enter the transfer portal and join Ricky Rahne, his former offensive coordinator and current Old Dominion head coach. 

In 2021, Kuntz was second among tight ends nationwide with 73 receptions, and second on his team with 692 receiving yards. The massive tight end had five touchdowns as well. It looked like 2022 would be an even bigger year for the Camp Hill prospect, but Kuntz played in just five games before suffering a season-ending injury. 

Coming back from injury, the physical specimen Kuntz thrived at the NFL Combine. Kuntz ran an impressive 4.55-second 40-yard dash, had a 40-inch vertical, and added a 10-foot 8-inch broad jump. Since he tested so well, the New York Jets saw the potential a big target like Kuntz could have in its organization and selected the tight end in the 7th round. Kuntz joins a tight-end room that includes Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert, and Kenny Yeboah. Time will tell if Kuntz becomes utilized by the Jets as part of their offense.

Huge athleticism coming to the TE group. Let's go @zackkuntz_717!!

📰 https://t.co/1C6pXmzpCk pic.twitter.com/cqHSjghI2c

— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 29, 2023

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

After a disappointing opening round, the first Penn State Nittany Lion is finally off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft. On Friday, Joey Porter Jr. was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the first pick in the second round (No. 32 overall). Many felt Porter was snubbed when he didn’t become the first defensive back in Penn State football history taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. But ultimately, Porter still has all the talent needed to have a stellar professional career. 

Despite production for Penn State football, Joey Porter Jr. fell in the NFL Draft

The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers’ legend Joey Porter Sr., Joey Porter Jr. was a 247 composite four-star and the fourth-best prospect in Pennsylvania in the class of 2019. Porter put together an outstanding career in the Blue and White, earning All-Big Ten honors each season between 2020 and 2022. In addition to being named a first-team All-Big Ten selection, Porter was voted a second-team Associated Press All-American last year. All told, Porter finished his Nittany Lion career with 94 total tackles, 19 passes defended, one interception, and one forced fumble.

Despite less-than-stellar testing numbers at the NFL Combine and Penn State’s Pro Day, Porter was still expected to be a solid first-round selection. But as the first round of the NFL Draft wore on, it was clear it wouldn’t be Porter’s historic night. When the evening was over, four other cornerbacks saw their names called before the Penn State Nittany Lion.

JPJ is ready for the next step

But now, Porter has his NFL home. Although many expected the Steelers to take Porter in the first round, it was a shrewd bit of draft calculus by Pittsburgh to trade up and select Georgia tackle Broderick Jones, leaving Porter for round two. With his selection, Porter joins fellow Nittany Lions Dan Chisena, Pat Freiermuth, and Allen Robinson on the Steelers’ roster.

Overall, Porter is an extremely smart and physical corner who’s poised for a long and successful NFL career. If he continues to ascend in the NFL the same way he did in Happy Valley, then Joey Porter Jr. is a name Penn State fans will hear on TV broadcasts in the fall for many years to come.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!