STATE COLLEGE — Sean Clifford always planned to be Penn State’s starting quarterback. The opportunity came sooner than even he expected.

Clifford has huge task in replacing Trace McSorley, but he sounds and looks the part.

“This is the most confident and most ready I’ve ever been in my life,” Clifford said this summer.

The Nittany Lions return just 11 seniors from last season’s 9-4 team that finished third in the Big Ten East. Penn State has 55 first- or second-year players.

“You’ve got a bunch of guys that are hungry and are excited and that have something to really prove and got a chip on their shoulder,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “Obviously, you lack experience, and experience counts and experience matters.”

Clifford got a taste last season when backup quarterback Tommy Stevens missed time with injuries. The 6-foot-2, 216-pound Clifford completed 5 of 7 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in mop-up duty.