Does Penn State have more in store for backup QB?

More than a few jaws dropped Saturday night when Penn State backup quarterback Tommy Stevens lined up in the slot, went in motion, took a handoff from Trace McSorley on a jet sweep, ran over an Iowa defender, and scored the team's last touchdown on a 13-yard run.

Nittany Lions coach James Franklin wouldn't say whether Stevens, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound redshirt freshman, is involved in any more out-of-the-box plays, noting, "It's not something I'm comfortable discussing right now."

"He's a guy that we want to continue to get reps as a quarterback," Franklin said Tuesday. "He obviously has the ability to make plays. He is our backup quarterback right now. He pushes Trace every day in practice. But we've been working on those things for a while."

He said Stevens would continue to get experience and opportunities to grow, "but it's going to come within the framework of the offense."

In limited action in four games, Stevens has rushed for 137 yards and a 9.8-yard average on 14 carries, while throwing only two passes.

The Penn State punt-return game looked different against Iowa, with wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins fielding the kicks instead of cornerback John Reid, the former St. Joseph's Prep star.

Franklin said Reid, who has returned 18 of the 23 punts that the Lions have returned in nine games and is averaging 7.2 yards, might be a little overworked.

"One of the things with John is he's just playing so many reps on defense," the coach said, "so we are kind of trying to limit that."

Franklin said he'd like to see someone step forward who can "not only catch the ball and make great decisions, but also be a threat."

But as for now, "I think John's our best option," he said.

Franklin, who wasn't happy in his postgame remarks with the nine penalties assessed against his team against Iowa, including two personal-foul penalties against linebacker Jason Cabinda, admitted the calls against Cabinda were very close, including one in which he pushed quarterback C.J. Beathard a split second after he crossed the out-of-bounds line.

"He's still inbounds, but you can tell his intent is to go out of bounds and [Cabinda] shoves him," he said. "The hard part is, that quarterback sticks his foot in the ground and cuts back and Jason doesn't make the tackle, then we're ripping him for that. It's a fine line."

Franklin said he had a "kind of a colorful discussion with the official," who told him, "I'll do the same thing to protect your quarterback."

"It was a great response," Franklin said. "Shut me right up. I walked away."