Rob Bolden
Encyclopedia
Robert "Rob" Bolden is an American football
quarterback
for the Penn State Nittany Lions
. He attended St. Mary's Preparatory
School in Orchard Lake, Michigan.
, Virginia Tech, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Nebraska, among others.
and Matt McGloin
, and another highly recruited freshman, Paul Jones, to win the starting quarterback job for the first game of the 2010 season
against Youngstown State
. Bolden becomes the first true freshman quarterback under head coach Joe Paterno
to start the opening game of the season, and the first since Wally Richardson
in 1992 to start any game of their freshman season. Bolden was also the first true freshman quarterback at Penn State to start the season since Shorty Miller
in 1910. On his decision to name Bolden as the starting quarterback, Paterno said, "He has got an arm, he's got a little poise, he did some things a little better than the other guys on more occasions. There are days I came off the field not knowing who I wanted to play."
Bolden played his first collegiate football game on September 4, 2010 for the Nittany Lions in the season opener against Youngstown State. Despite a shaky beginning, Bolden exhibited an overall solid performance in front of a home crowd of 101,213, in Penn State's 44-14 rout of Youngstown State, finishing 20-29 for 239 yards passing for two touchdowns and one interception.
Against Alabama, he turned in a strong performance between the 20s, going 13-29 for 144 yards, but two red zone interceptions cost the Lions chances to stay in a closer than the score 24-3 loss to Alabama. Bolden had an up-and-down day in a 24-0 shutout of Kent State, after a monster first quarter, the offense struggled, but the defense played with enough enthusiasm that the offense had already done enough to win in the first quarter, but Bolden finished 12-27 for 217 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Against Temple, he went 18 for 28 for 223 yards and no TDs. Against Iowa, Bolden went 20-37 for 212 yards and an interception. Penn State lost the game 24-3 after Bolden threw an interception that went for an opposing touchdown at the end of the game.
Bolden had a tough day on homecoming going 8 for 21 for 142 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He threw an 80-yard play-action touchdown pass following his second pick six of the year. Against Minnesota, he rebounded, going 11 for 13 for 130 yards and one touchdown before suffering an injury on an option play. He was pulled from the game with a concussion and was relieved by McGloin, who went 6 for 13 for 76 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. McGloin was named the starting quarterback following three straight wins in Bolden's absence, including the comeback win against Minnesota.
On January 2, 2011, Rob Bolden Sr. announced his son's plans to transfer out of Penn State. On January 3, Bolden and his father met with head coach Paterno and quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno
in State College, Pennsylvania
, to discuss the transfer. Paterno informed Bolden that he would not grant a release from his scholarship. Bolden decided to then stay at Penn State and not transfer.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
. He attended St. Mary's Preparatory
St. Mary's Preparatory
St. Mary's Preparatory is a Catholic secondary school in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan.-Overview:St. Mary's was founded in 1885 on Detroit's east side by Rev. Joseph Dabrowski as a school for Polish-American boys to train for the priesthood...
School in Orchard Lake, Michigan.
Recruitment
Bolden committed to Penn State University on July 10, 2009. He also had football scholarship offers from the University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, Virginia Tech, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Nebraska, among others.
College career
After arriving on campus in June, Bolden beat out two sophomores, Kevin NewsomeKevin Newsome
-College career:Newsome originally committed to Michigan during his junior year of high school, but later decommitted during his senior year to take Penn State's scholarship offer...
and Matt McGloin
Matt McGloin
Matthew James "Matt" McGloin is an American football quarterback for Penn State University He is the first former walk-on quarterback to start at Penn State since scholarships were reinstated in 1949...
, and another highly recruited freshman, Paul Jones, to win the starting quarterback job for the first game of the 2010 season
2010 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2010 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were members of the Big Ten Conference...
against Youngstown State
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
. Bolden becomes the first true freshman quarterback under head coach Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
to start the opening game of the season, and the first since Wally Richardson
Wally Richardson
Wallace Herman "Wally" Richardson is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He started at QB for the XFL's NY/NJ Hitmen. He played college football at Penn State.-References:...
in 1992 to start any game of their freshman season. Bolden was also the first true freshman quarterback at Penn State to start the season since Shorty Miller
Shorty Miller
Gene "Shorty" Miller was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.Miller played quarterback at Penn State from 1910–1913, missing only one game during his tenure and amassing a 23-8-2 record...
in 1910. On his decision to name Bolden as the starting quarterback, Paterno said, "He has got an arm, he's got a little poise, he did some things a little better than the other guys on more occasions. There are days I came off the field not knowing who I wanted to play."
Bolden played his first collegiate football game on September 4, 2010 for the Nittany Lions in the season opener against Youngstown State. Despite a shaky beginning, Bolden exhibited an overall solid performance in front of a home crowd of 101,213, in Penn State's 44-14 rout of Youngstown State, finishing 20-29 for 239 yards passing for two touchdowns and one interception.
Against Alabama, he turned in a strong performance between the 20s, going 13-29 for 144 yards, but two red zone interceptions cost the Lions chances to stay in a closer than the score 24-3 loss to Alabama. Bolden had an up-and-down day in a 24-0 shutout of Kent State, after a monster first quarter, the offense struggled, but the defense played with enough enthusiasm that the offense had already done enough to win in the first quarter, but Bolden finished 12-27 for 217 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Against Temple, he went 18 for 28 for 223 yards and no TDs. Against Iowa, Bolden went 20-37 for 212 yards and an interception. Penn State lost the game 24-3 after Bolden threw an interception that went for an opposing touchdown at the end of the game.
Bolden had a tough day on homecoming going 8 for 21 for 142 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He threw an 80-yard play-action touchdown pass following his second pick six of the year. Against Minnesota, he rebounded, going 11 for 13 for 130 yards and one touchdown before suffering an injury on an option play. He was pulled from the game with a concussion and was relieved by McGloin, who went 6 for 13 for 76 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. McGloin was named the starting quarterback following three straight wins in Bolden's absence, including the comeback win against Minnesota.
On January 2, 2011, Rob Bolden Sr. announced his son's plans to transfer out of Penn State. On January 3, Bolden and his father met with head coach Paterno and quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno
Jay Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Jay" Paterno, Jr. is the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team. He is the son of legendary former coach Joe Paterno.-Playing career :...
in State College, Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
, to discuss the transfer. Paterno informed Bolden that he would not grant a release from his scholarship. Bolden decided to then stay at Penn State and not transfer.