UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Maxwell Football Club announced Penn State redshirt junior quarterback to its watch list for the 85th Maxwell Award presented annually to the outstanding player in college football.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout at the Swarthmore College and a renowned sports writer and football official.
Clifford joins teammate Jahan Dotson on the watch list.
Sean Clifford Bio
- Redshirt senior Sean Clifford is in his third season as Penn State's starting signal caller, having played in 29 career games, making 24 starts.
- Clifford began the 2021 season on the watch lists for the Manning Award, Reese's Senior Bowl and Wuerffel Trophy.
- Clifford is one of 25 quarterbacks being considered for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
- He is also a semifinalist for the NFF's William V. Campbell Trophy, awarded to the nation's top football scholar athlete, and the Allstate Good Works Team.
- The QB, who owns a 3.45 cumulative GPA, graduated with a degree in public relations in December 2020 and is pursuing a second degree in journalism.
- Against Indiana, Clifford threw three touchdown passes, connecting with TE Brenton Strange (10 yards) and WR Jahan Dotson (8 yards, 30 yards).
- Clifford reached the 6,000-career passing yard mark. He became the fifth Penn State quarterback to reach 6,000 passing yards, finishing the night with 6,068 passing yards.
- Against Villanova, Clifford became the first Penn State quarterback to throw for at least 400 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in a game.
- Clifford threw for a career-high 401 passing yards and tied a career high with four passing touchdowns to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.
- Clifford was 12-of-12 for 265 yards on the day when targeting Jahan Dotson (seven catches for 117 yards) and Parker Washington (five catches for 148 yards).
- With three touchdown passes of 52 or more yards against Villanova, Clifford brought his career TD pass total of 40-plus yards to 12.
- Against Auburn, Clifford completed a career-high 28 passes, on 32 attempts.
- Per ESPN, Clifford's 87.5 completion percentage is the highest by a Penn State quarterback in the last 25 years.
- Since 2000, Clifford's 67.3 completion percentage is the highest through five games (minimum 100 attempts) by a Penn State quarterback.
- Clifford sits second in the Big Ten in completions per game (20.6).
- Clifford ranks third in the conference in passing touchdowns (11; 14th nationally), passing yards (1,336; 20th), passing efficiency (160.5; 22nd), passing yards per game (267.2; 24th) and completion percentage (.673; 29th nationally).
- Since 2000, Clifford and Trace McSorley (1,352 yards, 12 touchdowns) are the only Penn State quarterback with at least 1,330 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns through the first five games of a season. Clifford also accomplished it in 2019 (1,443 yards, 12 touchdowns).
- Since 2000, Clifford's 1,336 passing yards are the fifth-most through the first five games of a season by a Penn State quarterback.
- Clifford is just one of four Penn State players all-time to reach 6,500-plus yards of total offense and one of five quarterbacks to reach 6,000 career passing yards.
- Clifford is one of 11 current FBS quarterbacks with over 6,500 total yards and over 6,000 passing yards in his career.
- Clifford owns 24 career games with multi-TD passes, including nine with three or more TDs and three with four or more.
- The redshirt senior has tossed multiple touchdowns in a half on 14 occasions and nine different times has thrown multiple touchdowns in a quarter.
- Clifford owns six career games with at least 250 passing yards and three passing touchdowns.
- The quarterback has tossed five career touchdowns of 70-plus yards and has completed 82 career passes of 20 or more yards.
The 2021 Penn State Football season is presented by PSECU.