Losing Devlin terrible for PSU

This is terrible news for Penn State.

Pat Devlin gave the Nittany Lions a very good option at backup quarterback, and his decision to transfer will change how the coaches utilize Daryll Clark next season. Oh, and if Clark gets hurt at some point, you might as well kiss the season goodbye.

The Lions have a chance to contend for the national title again next year because they return a lot of talent and their schedule is weak. But with Devlin now out of the mix, Clark will be the only experienced or even viable quarterback, and you know the coaching staff will not want to take ANY chances with his health.

That means we can forget about Clark taking off and running a lot next year because he may get injured. As a result, Clark will not get to utilize all of his great athleticism, and the offense will suffer from it.

With Devlin around, the coaches had the luxury of knowing he could come in and get the job done if something happened to Clark. Now the coaches have no idea who their backup quarterback will be next season, basically because the staff has done a lousy job recruiting quarterbacks the past few years.

How in the world did a veteran staff like this not see Devlin transferring as a possibility, therefore giving it a sense of urgency this year to find a couple of stud prospects? There have been rumors of Devlin transferring since way back in the summer, when it became more and more apparent Clark would be the starter.

Hopefully Clark can stay healthy in the Rose Bowl and all next season. If he can't, Penn State may quickly go from being a legitimate national championship contender to an also-ran in the Big Ten.