Feb. 20, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - First-year assistant coach Joe Moorhead has been selected as the 247Sports Offensive Coordinator of the Year. Moorhead spearheaded an offensive attack that helped the Nittany Lions capture the 2016 Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl berth.
Under Moorhead, the Penn State offense experienced a resurgence, posting a +14.4 scoring improvement from 2015 to 2016, which ranked fourth in FBS and second among Autonomy 5 schools. The Nittany Lions finished 21st in scoring offense (37.6), 36th in FBS in passing offense (260.7), fifth in passing yards per completion (16.15), 14th in team passing efficiency (156.6) and 49th in total offense (432.6).
The Nittany Lions broke school records for total offense with 6,056 yards, besting the mark of 5,836 set by the 2008 squad, and passing yards with 3,650, topping the record of 3,278 set in 2012. Additionally, the 2016 team tied the school record with 526 points, equaling the mark set by the 1994 squad.
Penn State scored 30 or more points in 11 games in 2016, which was the most in a season since the 1994 squad did it 12 times. Additionally, the Nittany Lions scored 40 or more points in five games, which was the most since the 2008 team did it seven times.
With Moorhead at the helm, quarterback Trace McSorley set Penn State records for passing yards in a season (3,614), total offense in a season (3,979), passing touchdowns in a season (29) and consecutive games with a passing touchdown (15). In addition, running back Saquon Barkley broke the sophomore season records for rushing yards (1,496), all-purpose yards (1,972) and points scored (132).
More than 3,600 new season tickets have been sold for the 2017 campaign. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2017 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.