Matt McGloin - Big 33 Autograph and Memorabilia Show

Matt McGloin had chills running through his body as he sat in the squad room at the Lasch Football Building listening to his new head coach when he addressed the team for the first time on Jan. 8. From that moment forward, McGloin knew that it was time to go to work and lead. He spent countless hours studying the playbook Coach Bill O'Brien had used as the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator and would install at Penn State. Additional time was spent watching tape of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in preparation for the start of spring practice. McGloin was a keen observer while watching Brady carve through the AFC Playoffs under the direction of O'Brien, the Patriots' quarterbacks coach from 2009-11. A fifth-year senior, McGloin made substantial progress in all facets of the quarterback position and running the offense from the start of spring practice to the Blue-White game. O'Brien repeatedly said throughout the spring that no group faced a steeper learning curve during spring practice than the quarterbacks. Learning a new offense and its terminology, commanding the offense in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage, reading the defense and the swift tempo at practice were among the challenges for McGloin and the rest of the quarterbacks during their first spring under O'Brien. McGloin improved each day and played the best football of the spring at the end of the 15-practice session, which led to O'Brien naming him as the first-team signal-caller on June 1, exactly three months before the season-opener. A fiery competitor, McGloin started the final five regular-season contests and played in all 12 regular-season games in 2011. The talented and hard-working quarterback completed 54.1 percent of his passes (125-of-231) for 1,571 yards and eight touchdowns last season with five interceptions. McGloin has made five starts in each of the past two seasons, but has delivered seven career 200-yard passing games, good for No. 10 in Penn State annals. He is a poised, confident and personable young man who has overcome numerous obstacles on his journey to becoming the No. 1 quarterback entering preseason camp. With continued progress over the summer, McGloin is poised to help lead the team into a new era of Penn State football. He graduated in May with a degree in journalism and is scheduled to earn a second degree, in telecommunications, in December. McGloin and Nittany Lion offensive lineman Eric Shrive were prep teammates at West Scranton High School. They are among 11 returning Nittany Lions from Eastern Pennsylvania.