UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Tommy Stevens' offseason full of will he transfer or won't he questions has come to a close.
"I did search around and look to see if there was a better place for me somewhere, and I talked to some schools," Stevens said Wednesday night following Penn State's practice in Holuba Hall. "Ultimately, I know what I have here. I love Penn State. I love the relationships that I have here. And I love playing football with my best friends."
While the decision comes as a relief to Penn State's coaches and Stevens' teammates, the versatile quarterback, who had a position created for him last season known as the 'Lion,' was upfront with James Franklin and the staff throughout the entire process. The head coach's response to Stevens telling him after the Fiesta Bowl he was going to look around and mull graduate transfer options was met by a sympathetic ear from Franklin.
Tommy Stevens on his decision to stay at Penn State. pic.twitter.com/HQ87b2uUkN
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) March 28, 2018
"Tommy and his family handled this situation unbelievably well," Franklin said after practice. "He was very honest. I think we all see what's going on in college football, there's a lot of people taking the path of least resistance and transferring when times get tough of when adversity hits and Tommy obviously came in and talked to us, it was something he was possibly considering and he just handled it so well.
"We said, 'Look, let's talk about this, let's explore this, but we don't ever want you leaving unless it's the right situation,' " Franklin continued. "If it's the right situation for you and your family we're going to be as supportive as you can possibly imagine, but if you don't find the situation that just makes complete sense then you should come back because you know what you're getting with us as coaches, you know what your getting with your teammates, you know the scheme and all these things. He's earned so much respect for our team so obviously as a coach I am elated that Tommy is going to stay with us, but more so than that just how he handled the whole process. I'm real proud of him."
Leading up to the decision certainly wasn't easy. Stevens said it gave him "unneeded attention" both from fans and classmates who wanted to know whether or not he'd pursue a graduate transfer after this spring. While Stevens is still on pace to graduate, it wasn't until he was sitting at dinner with his girlfriend when a stranger approached and asked him if he'd leave or not that he realized this process was worse than his original recruitment out of high school.
"Wherever I went. If I was on campus eating, if I was walking to class, if I was doing whatever there was always somebody there like, 'Hey, what are you doing? Are you staying or are you leaving?' " Stevens said. "People were like, 'Hey, we hope you do what's best?' ... It just shows how supportive this fanbase is. It's an incredible place and I couldn't be happier to be here."
Penn State couldn't be happier to keep him, either. Stevens said he met with offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne throughout the process and while the ideal fit was the one that was right in front of Stevens all along, the move will continue to give Penn State's offense an edge. Stevens showed last season he can run, throw and catch passes, all helping exploit defenses especially giving him added appeal in the red zone. Don't look for that to change. If anything, look for more from Trace McSorley's backup.
Penn State's coaching staff laid out for Stevens how they plan to use him next season, he said. Stevens, who grew up playing safety, running back, quarterback, wide receiver, outside linebacker and cornerback under the guidance of his dad and uncles is ready to see what's in store for him in this offense next season under Rahne.
"They told me, 'Hey, here's what we're going to do if you do expect to stay," Stevens said of the Penn State staff. "I guess I do expect an increased role [in the offense]."
There's still a ways to go between now and then and Stevens appeared at practice Wednesday on a cart and had his right foot in a boot. This spring has given him a rare chance to work on the mental side of his game, something that he said is the area where he said he still needs to grow the most. While that's made Sean Clifford the No. 2 quarterback this spring, Stevens said the mental reps are challenging him in a different way. Franklin said the quarterback situation this spring is a bit of a blessing in disguise as Clifford gets additional reps.
It also gives the quarterback spot a big boost should McSorley, whose been very durable during his collegiate career, miss any time. Clifford, a rising redshirt freshman, is the No. 3 when all are healthy and he's backed by Jake Zembiec. A potential transfer of Stevens would've meant the Lions would've potentially needed Clifford this season.
Stevens smiled as he navigated Holuba Hall in his cart during the practice, perhaps one part elated he's back on a football field, the other part relieved that this process his behind him. He told his teammates his decision before they took the field Wednesday and even reached out to close friend Saquon Barkley to let him know too.
Tommy's time, whenever it may be, will come with him wearing blue and white.
"I'm glad it's over and I'm glad I can stop being a distraction to my teammates," he said. "I tried not to be. ... We can just focus on football now, get back to work and start grinding for next season."
WORTH NOTING
• The darling of spring ball -- of the "buzz" of the spring -- is none other than wide receiver KJ Hamler. That was Franklin's pick and Hamler, a rising redshirt freshman, hauled in a post against Cover-2, according to wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins. Thompkins said as soon as the ball was in the air they knew it was a touchdown.
"He's so quick and so fast," Franklin said. "Usually you get a guy who is really fast or a guy who is really quick and he's both. He's still not even as efficient with his movements as he needs to be, but he's an exciting prospect."
Added Thompkins: "The dude is a lightning bolt. I'd love to think I'm the fastest guy on the team, but he might got me."
• Cornerback John Reid sustained a season-ending knee injury almost one year ago. His close friend, Thompkins said while Reid hasn't been full go this spring, something the staff planned to do with many of their known commodities like Thompkins too, Reid is now better off because of the year away. During that time he improved mentally and while he always separated himself because of his attention to detail.
"Reid is one of those guys that once he understood he was out he took the mental role and the mental aspect of everything. He was watching film constantly, telling me about my routes and what the cornerback does and stuff like that," Thompkins said. "What he had lost physically he gained mentally -- and that's one thing he's always had an edge over most people on our team. He's mentally way more developed and way more in tune with himself."
• What's the benefit of the added reps for Clifford, who is serving as the No. 2 quarterback with Stevens sidelined?
"We'll have three quarterbacks for the first time since I've been here that will be available to play without having to burn redshirts and they're guys that we think can play, can play and be ready and be prepared at this level," he said. "That next guy on the list gets a bunch of reps and now you've created a lot of depth."
• Franklin was at the NIT game last night at Madison Square Garden and was encouraging Penn State fans to back The Garden Thursday night for the Lions' title game against Utah. Franklin said he arrived back in State College in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and then had a staff meeting at 7 a.m. He's hoping to make the game Thursday night.
• There's not much clarity at the middle linebacker spot, as one would expect at this point of spring practice. Franklin said Micah Parsons is "still figuring it out." While that spot will be up for grabs, there's no denying that Cam Brown and Koa Farmer will be those other guys flanking whoever is in the middle.
"It's good to see Ellis (Brooks) out here getting some work as well and then we got all those guys who kind of have been developing and waiting for their time. The Jan Johnson's, (Jake Cooper) Coop's and guys like that. ... There's more depth than we've probably had there in awhile."
• Freshman wide receiver Mac Hippenhammer is playing baseball for Penn State as well. Franklin said Hippenhammer's confidence is built with baseball and that he's done well academically despite the many demands between the two programs.
• Franklin said it before and said it again after practice: Running back Mark Allen is one of the team's top pass protectors. He also praised Hamler for his ability to block on the perimeter.
• Franklin said it's a "huge" spring and summer for wide receiver Brandon Polk, someone that the Lions need to step up. Polk will likely be vying for time with Hamler and Polk likely will continue to be an option in the kick return game as well.