STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — As Penn State head coach James Franklin enters his sixth season at the helm, he does so with question marks swirling around every practice.

Mainly because of the fact that he will be tasked with finding a replacement for his record-setting quarterback Trace McSorley, who was drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens after firing for 2,530 yards and 18 scores a season ago, leading Penn State to a 9-4 record and a third place finish in the Big Ten, East Division.

McSorley broke numerous records as a Nittany Lion, including 31 wins, 720 completions, 9,899 passing yards, 77 passing touchdowns and 30 rushing touchdowns by a quarterback — numbers that won’t be easy to replace.

“Obviously, there are question marks at the quarterback position,” Franklin said at Big Ten Media Day. “Whenever you lose a quarterback that played as many games and started as many games as Trace McSorley did for us and was able to win at such a high level, obviously there are going to be question marks going into the season.

“But, we’ve been fortunate to be able to recruit extremely well and we’re very confident in the way we develop that position, as well.”

Looking to fill the void left by McSorley will be redshirt sophomore Sean Clifford and redshirt freshman Will Levis.

“We think we’re going to have a great competition,” Franklin said. “We have two, what we would consider veterans, in Sean Clifford and Mr. Levis that are going to have a great competition this camp and have really had it all summer.

“We have two freshmen who are going to have an opportunity to compete, as well, and we’ll make a decision when the decision has been made — when it’s obvious to everybody who are starting quarterback is going to be.”

Clifford attempted only seven passes last season but having the chance to learn from McSorley is experience in itself.

“Sean was able to gain some experience last year and do some pretty good things for us,” Franklin said. “I know he’s excited and chomping at the bit, as well as Will Levis is, too.

“So, obviously there are some big shoes to fill but we have tremendous confidence in those guys and what they’ll be able to do for our program.”

The Nittany Lions are coming off of a 27-24 setback in the Citrus Bowl to Kentucky but despite the key loss at quarterback are returning eight of 10 All-Big 10 players, including first-team All-Big Ten defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos.

Gross-Matos is entering the season, however, serving a suspension for a violation of team rules.

Another key returning star will have his name called all over the field this year as redshirt sophomore K.J. Hamler will be a main target for either Clifford or Levis and will also return punts and kickoffs.

Hamler averaged 26.2 yards on 20 kickoff returns a year ago and 6.9 yards on 14 punt returns.

He also led the team in receptions (42) and yards (754) and hauled in five touchdowns.

Joining Hamler as top pass catchers are freshman Justin Shorter and sophomore Jahan Dotson.

Freshman Daniel George, sophomores Cam Sullivan-Brown and Mac Hippenhammer, and junior Isaac Lutz should also see time on the field at receiver.

The Nittany Lions could be especially dangerous from the tight end position with sophomore Pat Freiermuth and senior Nick Bowers lining up.

“We expect to take a step this year at the wide receiver position,” Franklin said. “We are young, talented and probably the fastest football team as I’ve ever been a part of in my nine years as a head football coach. We’re excited about having that speed and athleticism on the field.

“We gained a lot of experience last year at the tight end position. I feel like that has a chance to be a strength for us with Freiermuth and Bowers.”

With Penn State’s top two rushers in Miles Sanders and McSorley gone to the NFL, the load of the carries will be in the hands of sophomore tailback Ricky Slade.

Slade rushed for 257 yards and six touchdowns on 45 carries last year.

Sanders led the team with 220 attempts and 1,274 yards. He added nine scores.

McSorley turned in 170 rushes for 798 yards and a team-high 12 rushing scores.

“When you look at us at the running back position over the last number of years, we’ve been able to produce at a high level at that position,” Franklin said. “We want to be able to continue to do that.”

Slade will be running behind a strong offensive line led by senior Steven Gonzalez at left guard.

Juniors Michal Menet and Will Fries will play center and right tackle, respectively, while C.J. Thorpe holds down the right guard spot and freshman Rasheed Walker gets the nod at left tackle.

Junior Anthony Whigan, sophomores Deslin Holmes and Mike Miranda and freshmen Bryce Effner and Juice Scruggs will also be called upon to block.

On defense, Franklin and his staff will look to fill the shoes of cornerback Amani Oruwariye who amassed 50 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in 13 games last year.

In order to make up for those lost numbers, Franklin and company will count on senior John Reid and junior Tariq Castro-Fields at the corner positions.

Freshman Keaton Ellis and sophomore D.J. Brown will also be viable options.

Senior Garrett Taylor will handle the strong safety duties with sophomore Jonathan Sutherland stepping up at free safety.

Senior Johnny Petrishen and junior Lamont Wade provide safety depth.

In a conference with some of the most talented offensive players in the country, it will be crucial for Penn State’s defense to make plays.

“I think we have a chance to be as good anywhere in the country at defensive end,” Franklin said. “We went into spring ball with some question marks at defensive tackle but I think we’re probably a little further ahead there then we thought we were. Same thing at the safety position.

“And I feel like we have a chance to be really talented at linebacker and cornerback.”

Seniors Jan Johnson (MLB) and Cameron Brown (OLB) lead the defensive unit into action with sophomore Micah Parsons also lining up at outside linebacker.

Sophomores Jesse Luketa and Ellis Brooks, along with freshman Charlie Katshir will also need to step up at linebacker at times for the Nittany Lions.

Jake Pinegar and Blake Gillikin will supply the kicks and punts, respectively, for Penn State, who is one of six programs to finish in the Top 15 of the College Football Playoff Rankings each of the last three years.

Penn State is also one of six teams to win at-least nine games in each of the last three years.

“I’m excited about the season,” Franklin said. “When you look at our success over the last three years at Penn State, we’ve been able to do some really good things in laying the foundation to build on.

“There’s a lot of good things going on and we have to use that foundation to continue to grow and take that next step as an organization and a program.”