Liam Clifford’s college football journey has been full of ups and downs, but he’s been a consistent voice in the wide receiver room for years.
After the program’s top two receivers entered the transfer portal, Clifford is one of the few remaining receivers from a year ago. Gone are Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans; in are Kyron Hudson, Devonte Ross and Trebor Pena.
Clifford’s role remains uncertain with Hudson, Ross and Pena in the fold, the former two receiving the brunt of targets from Drew Allar in the 2025 Blue-White Game. He takes 39 career catches into his redshirt-senior season, the most of any receiver on the roster while wearing a Penn State uniform.
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 204 pounds
Hometown: Maineville, Ohio
2024: Clifford set career highs in catches (15) and receiving yards (266) during his redshirt junior campaign. He started seven of the 10 games he played, and Clifford’s first-career touchdown came against Kent State on September 21 at Beaver Stadium.
Clifford’s breakout game came against UCLA two weeks later, grabbing three passes for 107 yards. The game marked the first time Clifford eclipsed 100 yards.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.2023: He played in all 13 of PSU’s games, starting against Delaware, and earned an Academic All-Big Ten distinction for the second year in a row. He caught passes in eight separate games, including three in Atlanta against Ole Miss during the Peach Bowl. Clifford finished the season with 13 catches for 130 yards.
2022: Clifford was honored as an Academic All-Big Ten member for the first time during his redshirt senior year. He caught eight passes for 89 yards through 12 games in what was his brother Sean’s final year leading the program at QB.
2021: Redshirt
Before Penn State: Clifford was a three-year letter winner at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He broke program records for career receptions (166), receiving yards (2,538), and receiving touchdowns (30) en route to a Division 1 State Championship in 2020. Clifford won the 2020 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division 1 State Offensive Player of the Year award. ESPN regarded Clifford as the No. 53 receiver in the class of 2021 and No. 21 in Ohio football.
A quote from Clifford: “My preparation is not going to change no matter what,” Clifford said during the season on OC Andy Kotelnicki’s offense. “Each week, whether I have zero yards or 200 yards, I’m going to prepare the same way, make sure we push the room the same way and they push me the same way so it’s exciting to get a 100-yard game but it’s back to work tomorrow and nothing would have changed if I had no catches today.”
A quote about Clifford: “Really cool to see Liam Clifford with over 100 yards today. So now you watch on tape. Liam showing up, Julian [Fleming] showing up, the tight end showing up, the running back. So, it makes it difficult when they’re not sure who they can or will take away in the game, but great to see Liam have his first 100-yard game,” – Head coach James Franklin said after Clifford’s performance against UCLA.
