- Selected by Green Bay with the first of two choices in the fifth round (No. 149 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, becoming the first Penn State quarterback to be drafted by the Packers.
- Was the highest-drafted Penn State quarterback since Christian Hackenberg (second round, No. 51 overall) was selected by the N.Y. Jets in 2016 and became just the third Nittany Lion quarterback to be drafted since 2000.
- Finished as Penn State's all-time leader in completion percentage (61.4), completions (833), passing yards (10,661), total yards (11,734), passing touchdowns (86), pass attempts (1,356) and wins as a starting quarterback (32).
- Finished No. 4 in Big Ten history in career TD passes, No. 5 in passing yards and No. 7 in both completions and attempts.
- Earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from the coaches and media in three of his final four seasons (2019, 2021-22).
- Posted 607 career passing yards in bowl games, No. 2 in program history.
- In 2022, finished No. 3 for a single season in school history in completion percentage (64.4), tied for No. 4 in passing TDs, No. 5 in both passing efficiency (150.5) and TDs responsible for (29), No. 8 in both completions (226) and passing yards (2,822) and No. 9 in total yards (2,998)
- His 2021 season ranked No. 3 all-time in a single season at Penn State in both passing yards (3,107) and completions (261), No. 5 in completion percentage (61.0), tied for No. 2 in 300-yard passing games (four) and tied for No. 6 in 200-yard passing games (eight).
- Is the only QB in school history to have three games with 250 passing yards and three passing TDs in two different seasons (2019 and 2021).
- In 2020, finished No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing yards (1,883), passing TDs (16), passing attempts (251) and total offense (2,218) and was No. 3 in passing efficiency (137.45).
- Posted five games with three-plus passing TDs in 2019, including two with four TDs to become only the fifth QB in program history to have multiple games in a season with four-plus passing TDs.
- Earned degrees in advertising/public relations and journalism with a minor in psychology.
2022: Started 13 games, completing 226 of 351 passes (64.4 pct.) for 2,822 yards and 24 TDs with seven interceptions…Rushed for 176 yards and five TDs on 69 carries (2.6 avg.)…Also recorded two receptions for 24 yards (12.0 avg.) and a tackle (solo)…Joined LB Jonathan Sutherland as the only four-time captains in school history…Earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from the coaches and media…Finished No. 3 for a single season in school history in completion percentage (64.4), tied for No. 4 in passing TDs, No. 5 in both passing efficiency (150.5) and TDs responsible for (29), No. 9 in total yards (2,998) and No. 8 in both completions (226) and passing yards (2,822)…Earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition and was a finalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award…At Purdue (Sept. 1): Completed 20 of 37 passes (54.1 pct.) for 282 yards and a career-high-tying four TDs along with a rushing TD, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. Connected with RB Keyvone Lee for a 10-yard TD pass with 57 seconds remaining to give PSU the lead…Vs. Minnesota (Oct. 22): Was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after completing 23 of 31 passes (74.2 pct.) for 295 yards and four TDs, including three TD passes of 20-plus yards…Vs. Utah (Rose Bowl, Jan. 2): Completed 16 of 21 passes (76.2 pct.) for 279 yards and two TDs to earn Rose Bowl Game Offensive MVP honors and was the coaching staff's Offensive Player of the Week. Connected with WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith on a season-long 88-yard TD pass, the fourth-longest pass play in school history.
2021: Started all 13 games and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from the coaches and media…Connected on 261 of 428 passes (61.0 pct.) for 3,107 yards and 21 TDs with eight INTs…Posted 163 rushing yards and two TDs on 99 carries (1.6 avg.)…Voted a team captain for the third time…Finished No. 4 in the Big Ten in completions per game (20.1; No. 30 nationally), No. 5 in both passing TDs (No. 36 nationally) and yards (No. 31 nationally), and No. 6 in total offense per game (251.5)…Became the first QB in school history to have three games with 250 passing yards and three passing TDs in two different seasons (four games in 2021 and three games in 2019)…His 3,107 yards passing and 261 completions ranked No. 4 in school single-season history and his 61.0 completion percentage ranked No. 5…Registered eight 200-yard passing games, tied for No. 6 in school annals…Was a member of the 2021 National Football Foundation (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete Class…Selected to the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team, which recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their "good works" off the field...Earned a spot on the Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) Award first team…Selected as Penn State's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree...Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors...Earned the team's Public Service Award and Lion's Pride Outstanding Senior Player Award…Vs. Auburn (Sept. 18): Completed 28 of 32 passes (87.5 pct.) for 280 yards and two TDs and was named to the Manning Award Stars of the Week and Davey O'Brien Award Great 8 Lists. His 87.5 completion percentage was the highest single-game mark by a Penn State quarterback in the last 25 years…Vs. Villanova (Sept. 25): Named the Big Ten co-Offensive Player of the Week and was the coaching staff's Offensive Player of the Week after completing 19 of 26 passes (73.1 pct.) for a career-high 401 yards and a career-high-tying four TDs. Completed seven passes of 20-plus yards and four passes of 50-plus yards. Became the first PSU quarterback to throw for 400 yards and four TDs and the second QB to throw for 400 yards in a game...At Ohio State (Oct. 30): Completed a career-high 38 passes on 52 attempts (67.3 pct) for 361 yards and a TD, tying QB Matt McGloin (vs. Northwestern, 2012) for the most completions in a single game in program history.
2020: Saw action in nine games with eight starts and completed 152 of 251 passes (61.0 pct.) for 1,883 yards (7.5 avg.) and 16 TDs with nine INTs…Also carried the ball 99 times for 335 yards (3.4 avg.) and three TDs…Finished No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing yardage, passing TDs and attempts (251) and was No. 3 in passing efficiency (137.45)...Ranked No. 2 in the conference with 2,218 yards of total offense…Led the Big Ten in passing plays of 70-plus yards (two, t-No. 7 nationally) and 60-plus yards (four, t-No. 6)…Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and the team's Public Service Award…At Indiana (Oct. 24): Completed 24 of 35 passes (68.6 pct.) for 238 yards and three TDs and rushed for a career-high 119 yards on 17 carries (7.0 avg.), his first career 100-yard rushing game…Vs. Ohio State (Oct. 31): Totaled 281 yards and three TDs on 18-of-30 passing (60.0 pct.), including six completions of 20-plus yards. Threw all three TD passes in the second half, including two in the fourth quarter…Vs. Illinois (Dec. 19): Completed 16 of 22 passes (72.7 pct.) for 285 yards and two TDs, connecting with WR Jahan Dotson on a pair of 70-plus-yard TDs (75, 70), the first time in program history the Nittany Lions registered two passing plays of 70-plus yards in the same game.
2019: Started all 12 games and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from the coaches and media and was an Academic All-Big Ten selection…Ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten in passing TDs (23), yards per completion (14.04) and yards per pass attempt (8.32) and No. 4 in passing efficiency (148.54) and total yards per game (254.7)…Ranked No. 3 among Big Ten QBs with an average of 33.5 rushing yards per game (402 yards on 116 carries, 3.5 avg.)…Completed 39 passes of 20-plus yards...Was the fifth quarterback in program history to have multiple games with four-plus passing TDs…At Maryland (Sept. 27): Selected as the Big Ten co-Offensive Player of the Week after completing 26 of 31 passes (83.9 pct.) for 398 yards and three TDs. Added 54 rushing yards on seven carries (7.7 avg.) with a TD to set a career high with 452 yards of total offense. Completed his first nine passes of the game, totaling 166 yards and two TDs. Threw for 287 yards in the first half, breaking the school record held by QB Trace McSorley (258; Georgia State, 2017).
2018: Appeared in four games as a redshirt freshman, completing 5 of 7 passes (71.4 pct.) for 195 yards (27.9 avg.) and two TDs…Completed the first five passes of his career…Was an Academic All-Big Ten selection…Vs. Kent State (Sept. 15): Completed all three of his passes for 117 yards, including a career-long 95-yard TD pass to WR Daniel George in the fourth quarter.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was the first player to be a two-time team captain at St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati, Ohio), leading the team to the Division I state title as a senior in 2016 with a double-overtime win over St. Ignatius…Finished his career ranked No. 4 in school history with 4,004 career passing yards and set the school records for QBs with 1,110 rushing yards and 20 rushing TDs…Guided the school to three consecutive Greater Catholic League South titles in three seasons as the starting QB...Earned all-city and all-district honors and was named team MVP as a senior, completing 123 of 216 passes (56.2 pct.) for 1,426 yards and nine TDs while adding 571 yards and 12 TDs on 152 carries (3.8 avg.)…Earned first-team all-state recognition as a senior from MaxPreps/JJ Huddle…Was invited to the Under Armour All-American Game and the Army All-American Game...Attended the 2017 Under Armour Game, but was unable to play due to injury...Was a 2016 Elite 11 Finalist and was named Most Accurate Passer at Elite 11 competition...Accounted for 1,746 passing yards, 225 rushing yards and 18 total TDs (12 passing, six rushing) as a junior in 2015...Accumulated 832 passing yards, 314 rushing yards and 11 total TDs (nine passing, two rushing) as a sophomore in 2014...Also lettered in basketball as a freshman and track & field as a junior.
PERSONAL: Given name Sean Burke Clifford…Born in Barrington, Ill. …His younger brother, Liam, plays wide receiver at Penn State…His father, John, played football and baseball at the University of Dubuque…Along with Liam, founded Limitless NIL, which seeks to help student-athletes build cutting-edge brands and business relationships designed for the world of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness)…Served as Penn State Football's leadership liaison for volunteer activities in 2021, leading the team and encouraging his teammates to participate in volunteer activities throughout the community…Participated in the Reading Rewards Program, visiting elementary schools on a regular basis to read stories to classes and encourage the youth to read…Helped raise money each year for the Life for Life event, a fundraiser for kidney cancer treatment and research…Participated in TeamIMPACT, a program that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams.
