Penn State transfer Tommy Stevens feels great about his performance and the team’s development in the preseason as Mississippi State continues to search for a starting quarterback.

Stevens, competing with Keytaon Thompson, played for coach Joe Moorhead in 2016 and 2017, and last year appeared in seven games for the Nittany Lions in limited action as a backup to Trace McSorley. He left Penn State ranked No. 8 on the school’s career quarterback rushing yardage list with 506 yards and is tied for eighth in program history in career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (8).

“If you go by the numbers, this is probably my best camp so far, as far as completion percentage and things I’ve been doing with the football,” he said, according to a video from Gene’s Page. “Obviously, there have been mistakes made and things I’ve been able to learn from. There’s always room to improve.”

Coach Joe Moorhead has said the quarterback competition has elevated the rest of the offense and team overall. Stevens added that he believes the offense has clicked so far.

“I think competition brings out the best in anybody,” Stevens said. “… I really like the vibe the team’s been carrying right now.”

Stevens added that he’s supportive of Thompson when his teammate makes a big throw in practice because that’s the kind of play the offense needs.

“Same thing if I were to make a good play, he’s the first one to tell me it was a good throw,” Stevens said.