We’ve gotten to know a great deal about Sean Clifford during his career, and the third-year starting quarterback is as important to his team as any individual player in the country this season.
If something happens to Clifford, though, we’ll find out very quickly what backup Ta’Quan Roberson can do.
So, what is there to know about Roberson? We caught up with him on media day so he could discuss himself and what he’s learned in his time at Penn State.
What’s the one thing Roberson said he would like people to know about him?
“I’m a fun guy, I like to have fun,” he said. “But also, when it’s time to work, I just put my head down and grind.”
Roberson has been around for a while, arriving as an early enrollee in January of 2019. A 4-star recruit out of New Jersey, he said this when asked about the biggest steps he’s taken during his career:
“Since I got on campus, just learning how to prepare, learning how to practice and learning how to actually watch film and improve my game.”
Roberson saw action for a few snaps against Rutgers at the end of the 2019 season, and he was on the field for four snaps in last year’s finale against Illinois.
Those experiences at least helped him get rid of some of the butterflies of seeing game action.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“I think it really helped a lot,” Roberson said.
Roberson is still so inexperienced, however, that there’s just no telling what might happen if he’s forced into significant action this season. He just hasn’t been able to get enough game reps to feel confident in how he would perform.
Roberson said he has tried to make the most of all the practice reps he’s had during his career, even when he’s just backing up Clifford.
“In practice, when Sean’s in, I’m back there taking mental reps,” Roberson said. “So I feel like just never taking a rep off will prepare for me a game.
Clifford has been a big help to Roberson along the way.
“Since I came here I learned a lot from Sean,” Roberson said. “He took me under his wing since I was a freshman, just bringing me in, meeting each other in the building, watching film, watching tape, going over the new offense and just being prepared.
“(Sean is) a great leader,” Roberson added. “I think anyone can vouch for that, especially me. We’re in the same room — also Mason (Stahl), Christian Veilluex — he has the most experience, so we just love learning from him each day.”
Roberson also said he’s learned a lot from new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.
“Coach Yurcich is a great coach,” he said. “I think he helps me in every aspect of football — to come in watching film with him, just talking ball, him teaching us the new offense.”
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