Bill Kline, Morning Call Sports Editor: This is easier than guessing what play Penn State will run on third-and-long. Pat Devlin has the better pedigree and a much better throwing arm -- and also has sophomore eligibility. That means he'll have three full years to grow into the position and very likely one of the nation's best -- despite the quarterback coaching he might receive. Clark might have just one year of eligibility left, and Penn State cannot afford a one-year starter at quarterback.
Mark Wogenrich, Morning Call Sportswriter: First, Clark has two years of eligibility left. He was forced to sit out the 2005 season because of an NCAA clearinghouse issue. To regain that season of eligibility, Clark had to complete 80 percent of his degree by June 2009. Clark said recently he will graduate this December, this securing eligibility for 2009. Second, pedigree and throwing arm are relative, I suppose. Clark threw for 1,800 yards and 18 TDs as a senior in high school (not Devlin's numbers, I realize), so he's not a newcomer to the position. His arm strength isn't an issue, and his accuracy is underrated, I think.
BK: Speaking of underrated, Devlin is a good runner, too, and can easily adapt to the spread offense. More importantly, what if the spread offense is a bust, either this year or in '09 with an entirely new group of receivers? Devlin would be the better guy for the traditional pocket passing game.
MW: Here's what quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno has to say about that. Clark played in a drop-back offense in high school, while Devlin ran a spread option. Granted, that's four years ago, but it illustrated Clark's familiarity with throwing the ball. Besides, in spring practice, neither QB ran much at all. They were instructed to throw almost exclusively, particularly when drilling plays like third-and-five. So it's not like Clark spent last spring simply running the option all the time.
BK: We'll have to wait and see about Clark's eligibility for 2009. But the bottom line is Devlin definitely has three years of eligibility left and, all things being equal, go with the younger guy.
MW: My bottom line, I guess, comes back to this story: Clark was ineligible to travel with the team to the 2006 Orange Bowl, so teammates chipped in to pay his way. Devlin might be younger, but Clark has had an extra year to win over his teammates.
