Penn State fans got some good news on Wednesday night as James Franklin announced that quarterback Tommy Stevens is returning for the 2018 season.
Stevens, who had not previously confirmed he was contemplating leaving in the first place, will continue to play his versatile ‘Lion’ role. Stevens told StateCollege.com in January that he is set on playing the quarterback position for the reminder of his football career as it pertains to any position changes. Stevens has been used in the past as a triple- threat, catching, running and throwing option while on the field with starting quarterback Trace McSorley.
With the news now official, Stevens is likely to return for the 2019 season and would be favored to start as a senior that year.
Stevens admitted to reporters following practice that he had looked for options around college football but couldn’t find a better one than what he ultimately had at Penn State.
Prior to making the public announcement, Stevens told Sports Illustrated’s Bruce Feldman that he didn’t visit any other programs but had spoken to a few coaches.
“I don’t think it was a very hard decision at all,” Stevens told SI. “I wanted to look and see if there was a better opportunity for me out there. Ultimately, this is still a fantastic place. I love it here. I have a lot of good friends with great relationships. This is the best place for me.’
