Penn State’s Tommy Stevens — eye black smudged on his cheeks, sweat still dripping from his forehead — walked toward the hooting and hollering section behind the Nittany Lion bench with a permanent smile.
But before handing his gloves to a young fan, the backup quarterback was greeted by teammate and friend Juwan Johnson. The wideout put his left arm around Stevens’ shoulder and pulled him in close.
“I told him I loved him,” Johnson said, “for him just being so patient and taking the opportunities that he had. He’s been so trusting in the process that he’s been through.