GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Quarterback Tommy Stevens was in the game plan more times than not this season as Penn State's offense took advantage of his versatility and even created a special position for him, known as 'Lion.'
The Lion was turned loose in the Fiesta Bowl win, going on and off the field as Penn State and newly appointed offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne made Stevens a large part of the game plan, and because of it he helped keep the Washington defense "more worried about who was where than what was happening," as offensive line coach Matt Limegrover said.
But where Stevens, the redshirt sophomore backup to Trace McSorley ends up next season will be among the most pressing storylines for this team this offseason.
"I don’t know what the plan is honestly," Stevens told me Saturday night seated at his locker. "I’ve told people that I don’t exactly know what’s going to happen after this. I tried to take it game by game and learn as much as I could about the next opponent, so I’m not sure what’s next."
If Stevens stays, the Lions have another weapon in the arsenal, much more than just a backup to McSorley. If Stevens opts to transfer elsewhere -- and potentially take advantage of the graduate transfer rules if he wraps up his degree this spring semester -- that's one piece of the offense that potentially couldn't be replaced. There isn't another quarterback on the roster built like or as versatile as the 6-5, 228-pound athlete. He's the only 'Lion' on the depth chart for a reason.
"I guess. It could," Stevens said when I asked if he's more concerned about being a quarterback in the future or a versatile player.
And for what it's worth, Stevens might be one of the most personable, most likable Nittany Lions on this roster. Watching him kid with one teammate after another in the locker room Saturday night, it's obvious his teammates believe in him and that he's one of the glue guys on this roster. They believe in Stevens so much so that senior receiver DaeSean Hamilton was caught on video during the on-field celebration telling Stevens "You're gonna win the Heisman man. I promise you."
"Anytime I get to be in there with this guy, it makes it a lot more fun," McSorley said, slapping his teammate on the knee seated in the locker next to his. "That’s where the fun plays are supposed to come up big anytime he steps in there, so as a quarterback I start licking my chops when I see him come in there.”
So too does Rahne, who said he wants to continue utilizing the Tommy Stevens package next season.
Penn State resumes classes next Monday, though player movement after spring ball wraps up in April could still be an option. It wouldn't be ideal for Stevens to latch on with another FBS team in January -- and then be forced to sit out a year per NCAA transfer rules -- if he can wait until his degree is completed and do so then. It also doesn't mean if he's here in January he'll still be on campus in May, but it'd likely be harder for him to walk away after going through the grind of winter workouts with his teammates and then being pressed into learning a new offense elsewhere.
While Washington didn't get to see all that Stevens has to offer, whether or not Stevens is the 'Lion' or even a Lion next season will have a big impact on this offense.
"I’d love to have Tommy be a big part of it," Rahne said. "Just having him on the field, people have to prepare for a bunch of different things that he can do. We used it a lot in our bowl prep, our defense got to see a lot of it that Washington didn’t get to see tonight just because it didn’t fit. I see him being a big part of the offense in the future."
