When senior quarterback Liam O’Brien first took the field for the Quakers three seasons ago, fans knew what was coming.
His earliest appearances were predictable: quarterback sneaks, short-yardage pushes, and a reputation as a run-first player. This forecast has followed O’Brien since his earliest days at Penn. But O’Brien, with a diverse athletic background, never saw it that way — and after a breakout season last fall, fans are starting to see it his way, too.
“I’d describe myself as an athletic quarterback,” O’Brien said. “In today’s game, you’ve got to do everything, and that’s what I try to do.”
O’Brien’s versatility is rooted in his background. Before settling on football at Penn, O’Brien was committed to play lacrosse at Cornell — and it wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he decided to make the switch.
His dual-sport history conditioned him for his notorious run game, but last season, he proved that he was equipped with a much more versatile skillset. In his first game starting for the Quakers after then-senior quarterback Aidan Sayin went down with an injury, O’Brien led the Quakers to their first Ivy League win of the season against Brown. One week later, O’Brien further impressed by rewriting the history books against the school he could have played for.
O’Brien notched six passing touchdowns during Penn’s November 2024 matchup with Cornell, setting a program record for the most passing touchdowns in a game. He also totaled seven scores under his name, setting an additional Penn program record for the most total touchdowns responsible for in a game. O’Brien’s versatility led the Quakers to a dominating 67-49 victory, marking the Quakers’ most points scored since Ivy League play began in 1956.
Last season, O’Brien was thrown into being the Quakers’ signal-caller and quickly learned how to produce. The team also adjusted around him, taking advantage of his dual-threat ability as both a passer and runner. What began as a scramble to adapt mid-season soon revealed a new dynamic weapon for the team.
This year, O’Brien will start for the Quakers as a quarterback and senior captain, and the program hopes to further capitalize on what he has shown he can contribute.
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The coaching staff has leaned into his dual-threat identity while preparing in the offseason. Coach Ray Priore emphasized that the offense has been working to adjust to highlight O’Brien's unique skill set, especially with veteran receivers and offensive linemen returning this year.
“We’re surrounded by a really talented group, and now, it’s a matter of us watching our guys through preseason camp to see what they are good at, what we can get into, and how we build a package as the season goes on,” Priore said.
O’Brien has come a long way since his freshman year at Penn and is now ready to take on a new role for the Quakers.
“When I first got here, he was coming off an injury on his throwing shoulder, [but] now, he’s fully healthy. You can see the difference,” offensive coordinator Greg Chimera said. “He’s just our team captain, an overall leader, great player, and can run and throw. So he’s a dynamic player.”
The perception of O’Brien as a run-first option has, of course, lingered. But O’Brien isn’t deterred by the label. He knows the value he brings to the team, and instead sees his dueling skill sets as another weapon — when he sees defense anticipating a quarterback run, he will adjust with a pass, and vice versa.
"It’s going to create favorable matchups, favorable leverage for it in the pass game or with running backs running the ball,” O’Brien said. “It is really just a matter of trying to process everything that the defense is showing and taking advantage of where they might be weak.”
This balance between patience and decisiveness has fueled O’Brien’s rise — and what some view as setbacks, O’Brien views as lessons. He noted that the team’s loss to Princeton last year was a major learning opportunity.
“I’ve gone back and watched that game a lot,” O’Brien said. “Seeing what I did wrong, seeing where I can improve — that’s been a big motivation for me.”
As he enters his senior season, O’Brien isn’t focused on how fans or opponents will remember him, but rather on the impact he hopes to have on the team.
“I want them to remember a ring,” he said. “[But] I don’t really care if they remember me. I just want to be known as a good teammate, a good guy to be around, and someone who could lead a team of 100 guys.”
The coaching staff commended O’Brien’s leadership skills on and off the field — qualities that, when combined with his skillset as quarterback, make an ideal leader.
“He holds everyone accountable. … But in practice, you can hold him accountable as a leader, as the quarterback, and keep the friendships on the field,” Chimera said. “He’s really good about being able to switch gears in this way.”
“Some people can lead by what they do. Some people can lead by what they say. I think it’s a combination of all those things that he is able to put together,” Priore added. “He has the ability to connect with everyone and communicate.”
O’Brien’s leadership and character were also noted by his teammates, who both live and play with him.
“It’s just the standards he holds himself to,” senior wide receiver — and O’Brien’s roommate —Jared Richardson said. “It’s elite just watching even simple tasks like homework or doing chores around the house. He’s always making sure everything’s good. Everything that he does is very detailed.”
O’Brien is leaning into his role as a leader and hoping to make the most of his final season however he can.
“Seeing the smile on everyone’s face, seeing the work that everyone’s putting in towards the common goal that we have … hopefully we can put in the work that it takes to ultimately achieve the goal that we want,” O’Brien said.
For O’Brien, the perception of being a run-only quarterback was never the full story. This season, he’ll have the chance to write a new one — with his arm, speed, and above all, his leadership.
