UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State redshirt senior quarterback Sean Clifford was named the Big Ten's Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
This marks the first Offensive Player of the Week honor of Clifford's career. He is Penn State's first Offensive Player of the Week since KJ Hamler claimed the honor on Oct. 21, 2019.
Clifford threw for a career-high 401 yards and a career-high-tying four touchdowns in Penn State's 38-17 win over Villanova on Saturday. He now ranks fifth all-time in Penn State history with 5,890 career passing yards and second with 49 career passing touchdowns. The Cincinnati native joined Christian Hackenberg (454 yards vs. UCF in 2014) as the only quarterbacks in Nittany Lion history to throw for more than 400 yards in a game. Clifford connected on touchdown passes of 83, 52, 52 and 23 yards.
He shares the weekly award Northwestern running back Evan Hull.
Other Clifford Notes:
- Clifford connected with Jahan Dotson on a 52-yard touchdown pass on Penn State's first offensive play.
- Clifford also had a 52-yard touchdown pass to Parker Washington in the second quarter and a 23-yard strike to Washington in the third quarter.
- Clifford threw an 83-yard touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the third quarter. It was Penn State's longest play of the season.
- With two touchdown passes in each half, Clifford now has 14 multi-passing touchdown halves in his career.
- Clifford notched his fourth career 300-yard passing game. He's tied for fourth all-time at Penn State with Kerry Collins (1991-94).
- Clifford earned his 15th career 200-yard passing game. Clifford owns sole possession of sixth all-time at Penn State, breaking a tie with Daryll Clark (2006-09).
- Clifford has six career games with at least 250 passing yards and three passing touchdowns.
- Clifford had 393 yards of total offense, giving him 6,713 career total yards (5,490 passing, 823 rushing), good for fourth place at Penn State. He moved past Matt McGloin (6,325) and Clark (6,361).
- Clifford's four touchdown passes bring him to 58 career touchdowns responsible for, moving him into third place for the Nittany Lions. He moved past Saquon Barkley (54; 2015-17) and Hackenberg (55).
- Clifford has thrown for at least 200 yards in six-straight games.
- Clifford has thrown at least one touchdown pass in seven-straight games.
Penn State hosts Indiana this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
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The 2021 Penn State Football Season is presented by PSECU.