One week ago, Penn State veteran quarterback Sean Clifford announced he would return for a sixth season with the Nittany Lions.

Assuming good health, Clifford will head into the offseason primed to be a four-year starter, something rarely seen in college football.

Clifford and his teammates still have one game left this season, a Jan. 1 Outback Bowl date with Arkansas. Penn State (7-5) could use a significant win to minimize the disappointment of what transpired down the stretch of Big Ten play. The Lions dropped five of their last seven games and suffered close losses to Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State.

Clifford spoke with reporters Friday during Penn State’s bowl media sessions and discussed a variety of topics.

Here are some takeaways:

Kenny Pickett’s breakout season at Pittsburgh did not impact Clifford’s decision to return.

Pickett was sensational this season, throwing for more than 4,300 yards along with 42 touchdowns. The 2021 season was Pickett’s fourth as a starting quarterback and he threw just 38 touchdown passes in his first three seasons combined. But this year? He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Clifford said Pickett’s huge 2021 season did not influence his decision to come back.

“No, it did not. I had to look at my decision as my decision,” said Clifford, who has thrown for 7,449 yards and 59 touchdowns in his three years as Penn State’s starter.

“I’m not Kenny Pickett and Kenny Pickett isn’t Sean Clifford, so you can’t make decisions off of other college athletes.

“Kudos to Kenny though, coming back and really changing the dynamic of his trajectory into the (NFL) and changed the program at Pitt this year. I know Kenny personally, (a) friend of mine so, obviously, congratulations to him but at the same time, no, it really did not play into my decision. We’re two different people, two different paths.”

Clifford maintained there were a number of reasons he decided to return.

“There was a lot of factors that played into it, it wasn’t just one or two,” said Clifford, who threw for 2,912 yards and 20 touchdown passes in 2021.

“It was just a lot of discussion with my family, my teammates, my friends, everybody around me. … I thought that just coming back was my best decision and one that could help the team as well. I’m definitely excited about it.”

Clifford is embracing his role as a mentor to the Lions’ young quarterback room.

Behind Clifford are Christian Veilleux — a true freshman in 2021 — and 2022 signees Drew Allar and Beau Pribula.

“I’ve met both of them once or twice,” said Clifford, referring to Allar and Pribula, who will enroll in January.

“I haven’t really gotten a chance to really meet them that much, but I’m excited to. I know they’re both going to be here pretty soon, so you know, just for them, it’s going to be a lot of learning to start and that’s where I can come in.

“Really allowing them to be sponges and just give them as much information as possible, help coach (Mike) Yurcich grow that room, develop it and develop myself at the same time. I think that we’re going to be super-talented.”

A second year with offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich was a big factor in Clifford’s return.

Yurcich is Clifford’s fourth offensive coordinator. Joe Moorhead, Ricky Rahne and Kirk Ciarrocca are the other three.

“That was definitely one of the most appealing things, factors that played into it, having an offensive coordinator for two years, back-to-back,” Clifford said.

“I have yet to have that as a starter. To be honest with you, it has been difficult at times because you can’t really go back to last season and look at the tape and say, ‘Alright, we’re going to grow on this play, this play, this play’.

“Because there’s new plays coming in the door. So having that stability and having that opportunity to play with coach Yurcich again and, you know, run the same playbook but be able to add, take out, talk throughout the offseason about the whole season … there’s a lot of value in that.”

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