Super Bowl champion Trent Dilfer had high praise for Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley at the Elite 11 Finals in Redondo Beach, CA, this week.

“Trace McSorley is a rockstar,” Dilfer said. “There’s not a whole lot of difference between Baker Mayfield and Trace McSorley. In fact, I would argue Trace throws it every bit as well, if not better, than Baker. Trace McSorley should be the frontrunner for the Heisman.”

Skip to the 4:06 mark for Dilfer’s comments on McSorley.

Heading into his senior season this fall, McSorley is already far and away Penn State’s career passing touchdowns leader with 59. Barring injury, he’ll completely re-write the program’s record books in his final season as the starter.

Despite a fantastic high school career at Briar Woods in Ashburn, VA, McSorley wasn’t invited to events like the Elite 11 because of his size. His only other Big Ten scholarship offer came from Purdue.

But five years removed from his time as a recruit, when many programs thought he projected best as a safety, McSorley has cemented himself as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks.

As the clear leader of Penn State’s high-powered offense in 2018, McSorley deserves to be in the conversation for the Heisman — right alongside Stanford’s Bryce Love, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, and Georgia’s Jake Fromm, among others.

Dilfer, who won the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens following the 2000 season, has mentored the game’s top up-and-coming quarterbacks in his role as head coach of the Elite 11. 

His words comparing McSorley to Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, shouldn’t be taken lightly.