The most accomplished quarterback in Penn State history has a home in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens selected Trace McSorley with Pick 197 in Round 6 of the 2019 NFL Draft. A three-time All-Big Ten selection, McSorley started 40 consecutive Penn State games, becoming the program's all-time leader in total yards, touchdowns accounted for, and victories for a starting quarterback. He is one of 11 Big Ten players who've surpassed 11,000 total yards and one of only three who've accounted for 100-plus touchdowns, along with J.T. Barrett (Ohio State) and Drew Brees (Purdue). "If you're coming up with a list of characteristics or attributes or things that you were looking for to determine a guy's career, he's got most of the boxes checked," Penn State coach James Franklin said late in McSorley's senior season. McSorley, who finished 31-9 as a Penn State starter with wins in the 2016 Big Ten Championship and 2017 Fiesta Bowl, joins an interesting Baltimore quarterback room. The Ravens spent a first-round pick on scintillating dual-threat talent Lamar Jackson last year, though his vulnerability to hits as a runner make legitimate positional depth a necessity. Baltimore dumped former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco in a trade to Denver, leaving Robert Griffin III as the only other roster option. Despite his immense success at the college level, McSorley was not part of the discussion as draft analysts dissected the top tier of this quarterback class. There were 10 other players at the position selected ahead of him. “My career as a player isn’t over," McSorley said after his final college game, a Citrus Bowl loss to Kentucky. "... I was confident that I could play in college when I got to this level, and a lot of people didn’t think that I could. And I’m extremely confident that I can go out and perform at the next level. That’s something I’ve always dreamt of doing, and that’s something I plan on accomplishing.” McSorley suffered a foot injury in the Citrus Bowl. Penn State initially informed media members it was broken and he was absent to start the second half before returning to play through significant pain, leading three consecutive fourth-quarter scoring drives that nearly rallied the Nittany Lions out of a late 20-point deficit. "He's a guy who hates to lose, loves to win, and was willing to do anything for this team," Penn State safety Garret Taylor said afterward. "… Trace wasn’t gonna let anything get between him and a W for this program. The ultimate competitor, the ultimate teammate, and definitely a guy you strive to be like." McSorley wore a walking boot afterward while awaiting clarity from the Penn State medical staff. Eventually, he revealed things weren't as severe as initially feared before participating at the Senior Bowl three weeks later. “Not a big quarterback but a tough guy," Senior Bowl coach Jon Gruden said in his assessment of McSorley. "Got a lot of Rich Gannon, Jeff Garcia in him. Bulldog, fighter type quarterback." McSorley measured in at 6-foot, 202 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he clocked a 4.57-second 40-yard dash. He now aims to prove he can compete — and prosper — as a quarterback at the next level. During the draft process, speculation surfaced that some organizations could be interested in seeing what he can do elsewhere on the field. His history at the safety position is well documented, as that's where several college programs anticipated he would play coming out of high school. "I'm an athletic guy," McSorley last month said at Penn State Pro Day. "I can do a lot of different things. I can fill a lot of different roles for teams. ... Athletically, I probably could go out and do that kind of stuff, but I just focus so much on quarterback. ... I haven't done any backpedaling (at defensive back) in like five and a half years." After completing a career-best 66.5 percent of pass attempts in 2017, McSorley's completion percentage plummeted to 53.2 percent as a senior, when he threw for 2,530 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. During each of the previous two seasons, McSorley surpassed 3,500 passing yards and totaled 57 scores through the air. He delivered his most productive campaign as a runner in 2018, rushing for 798 yards (4.7 per carry) and 12 touchdowns. Last October, McSorley set a Penn State record with 461 total yards during a one-point loss to sixth-ranked Ohio State. An Ashburn, Va., native who previously led Briar Woods High School to four state championship games, McSorley initially committed to Franklin at Vanderbilt before following the coach to Happy Valley in 2014 as a member of Franklin's first Nittany Lions recruiting class. "I don't think one game is going to define Trace McSorley," Franklin said when asked about the QB's legacy at Penn State. "It's the whole package. It's the running, it's the passing, it's the leadership, it's the toughness, it's the academics, it's the community service. It's all of it."<doc-sep>Say it with me, Penn State: Trace McSorley is an NFL quarterback. The Baltimore Ravens selected McSorley in the sixth round (No. 197 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. Baltimore’s decision to snag McSorley with its final pick of the draft was the culmination of the quarterback’s three-year term at the helm of Penn State’s offense, and it certainly quieted any doubters who thought he’d go undrafted. Plenty of McSorley’s former teammates, coaches, and Penn State fans used Twitter to express their excitement and congratulate McSorley. Tears bro…let’s go my brotha! They getting a cold hearted winner ??? https://t.co/PMLRvSPFFl — Grant Haley (@haleyboy10) April 27, 2019 Couldn’t happened to a better person @McSorley_IX the Ravens are getting the best leader and competitor I have ever been around. https://t.co/snuHDhzHo9 — JaJuan Seider (@coachseider) April 27, 2019 Ravens got a DAWG, period @McSorley_IX — Jayson Oweh (@JaysonOweh) April 27, 2019 Even McSorley’s opposition offered their congratulations on Twitter, including former Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins and Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, who served as Penn State’s wide receivers coach from 2014-2017. Leader, Winner, Great Teammate, Hard Worker ….. whatever you name he is! Congrats @McSorley_IX keep believing in you! Excited to see you in that Ravens offense! — Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) April 27, 2019 Something tells me there will be a significant increase in Baltimore Ravens gear in and around State College in the next year. That said, Pittsburgh Steelers fans may not approve. hello from an airplane somewhere above pennsylvania. trace mcsorley forever, go ravens. — Bill DiFilippo (@billdifilippo) April 27, 2019 TRACE MCSORLEY IS A RAVEN! Let me know when you get your number and i will buy your jersey!!! @McSorley_IX!!! #HesAWizard #HesARaven! https://t.co/mJad8NcJh3 — Christopher Houck (@MrHouckMath) April 27, 2019 The winner gets to continue in Baltimore!! Congrats @McSorley_IX ! — Brendan Quireyns (@bquireyns08) April 27, 2019 Congratulations @McSorley_IX ! We are….so proud of you! — Marilyn Ayre (@mareayre) April 27, 2019 Congrats on the draft pick to Wings over’s #1 customer?? @McSorley_IX pic.twitter.com/JHPKrmu2bA — Glennyboy (@GlennGrasha21) April 27, 2019 i mean, i wish it wasn’t the steelers’ division rivals, but homeboy, you deserve this. we’re all so proud of you — emily maingi (@EmilyMaingi) April 27, 2019 Biggggg Ravens fan ? Congrats my brotha @McSorley_IX https://t.co/5kmGVRKboB — Mike Barta (@mbarta3) April 27, 2019 @McSorley_IX Congrats. Show everyone what they missed — Skellz (@skellz74) April 27, 2019 Ravens fans will hope to see plenty of home run celebrations from McSorley in the future.<doc-sep>
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens drafted their No. 3 quarterback and perhaps the next Taysom Hill. The Ravens used their final pick of the 2019 draft on Penn State's Trace McSorley, selecting the dual-threat quarterback in the sixth round Saturday. While Baltimore sees McSorley as a quarterback first, the Nittany Lions' all-time leading passer might have to play different roles, as Hill did last season for the New Orleans Saints. "You saw what the Saints have done down there with their third quarterback," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "That's something we'll have a chance to do, too, with Trace. He's going to be able to play special teams as well. The more you can do. You want players with roles, and he's a guy that has a chance to have a big role for us." Last season, Hill proved to be the NFL's most versatile weapon. He lined up as a read-option quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, kickoff returner and special-teams coverage specialist. McSorley, who was the fastest quarterback at the NFL scouting combine, might have to excel in a do-it-all role to make the Ravens' 53-man roster behind signal-callers Lamar Jackson and Robert Griffin III. Baltimore has carried three quarterbacks in the regular season only once in the past nine seasons. "My main thing is I feel I can be a quarterback, and that's my goal coming in is to compete and play the quarterback position," McSorley said during a conference call. "But I also know I can do some other things given the opportunity. I'm ready to go in and do anything the coaches ask me to do. I know I can do a lot of different things on the football field to make a team successful." McSorley finished as the career record-holder at Penn State for wins (31), completions (720), passing yards (9,899), touchdown passes (77) as well as rushing yards (1,697) and rushing touchdowns (30) by a quarterback. His style should mesh with the offense the Ravens are building around Jackson. But there has been skepticism whether McSorley can play quarterback in the NFL because of his lack of size (6 feet) and inconsistency throwing the ball (59.2 percent for his college career). Some teams were interested in seeing if McSorley could play safety, which is what he played in high school. McSorley declined to work out as a defensive back at the combine because he wanted to concentrate on playing quarterback. Asked what his reaction would be if the Ravens asked him to play special teams, McSorley said, "The focus [of his talks with the Ravens] was at quarterback, and at the quarterback position is what they feel I can do. If I'm in a backup role, being one of those guys that can maybe do a couple other things ... those are the things that I can be able to come in and provide help and provide support for the organization." The Ravens brought in McSorley for their local pro day and were impressed with his workout. He threw the ball well in the pocket and on the move, showing a live arm. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta called him the team's "sleeper pick." "We fell in love with the kid," DeCosta said of the 197th overall selection. "We brought him in as a quarterback but we think his skill set really does fit what we're trying to accomplish on offense. And he's got potential to do some other things, too."