Christian Hackenberg’s Story Unlike Any Other

In his three years at Penn State, Christian Hackenberg endured some of the harshest conditions a quarterback may ever have to deal with. A five star high school recruit at the time of the NCAA sanctions, Hackenberg stayed committed to the Nittany Lions program and new head coach Bill O’Brien.

In his freshman year, Hackenberg threw for 2,955 yards, 20 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and was named Big 10 Freshman of the Year.

He is sacked only 21 times.

In that season under Bill O’Brien (who had taken the job after being Tom Brady’s quarterback coach in New England), future second round offensive lineman Donovan Smith, future second round wide receiver Allen Robinson, and multiple other scholarship talents he thrived.

Just as a freshman, Christian Hackenberg was well on his way to being the top draft prospect at the quarterback position.

Fast forward a couple of months. Bill O’Brien has left Happy Valley for the Houston Texans. Leading receiver Allen Robinson declared for the draft. Offensive guard John Urschel was drafted by the Ravens. There were also less scholarship players due to the sanctions.

Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin is hired to build off of O’Brien’s 7-5 season.

It was immediately clear that Hackenberg did not fit into Franklin’s offensive game plan. The former SEC head coach relied much on moving the quarterback and having single read plays. If the one receiver was not open, Hackenberg was left to take a sack, throw an incompletion, or throw an interception.

In his second college football season (and first under James Franklin) Hackenberg finished with 12 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and nearly double as many rushing attempts.

He was sacked 43 times.

Fast forward a couple more months. Offensive tackle Donovan Smith is drafted by the Buccaneers at the top of the second round. Defensive lineman are trying to make the transition to offensive line. The sanctions have been lifted, but the lack of veteran talent is still not around.

Christian Hackenberg is sacked 39 times, an average of three times a game.

Christian Hackenberg was sacked 103 times in his three years at Penn State, 82 of those in the two years under James Franklin and with less scholarship talent.

He never missed a game. He rarely came out of the game. If he left a game, he returned two plays later.

He finishes as Penn State’s all time in nearly every quarterback related category

"Started all 38 career games under center…Finished his career as Penn State leader in career 300-yard passing games (9), 200-yard passing games (21), passing yards (8,457), attempts (1,235), completions (693), passing touchdowns (48) and total offense (8,215)… Is the only player in program history to have three 2,000-yard passing seasons…Is the only 8,000-yard passer in Penn State history…One of just eight Penn State quarterbacks to top the 5,000-yard mark, one of three to surpass the 6,000 career passing yards"

So what gives? What happened to that guy that was expected to be the next Tom Brady and be picked number one overall? The sanctions happened. Personnel changes happened. Multiple coaching changed happened.

Christian Hackenberg is the most battled-tested player in this years draft. He is the most mentally prepared quarterback in this years draft. No one saves a college program, let alone one of the winningest programs in college football history without being a leader and being mentally tough.

In an interview with Kim Jones (a Penn State graduate and reporter for NFL Network) Hackenberg recounts his three years at Penn State. He addresses the amount of pressure placed on him at just 18 years old. He expresses his fears of never living up to that Tom Brady potential Bill O’Brien saw in him just three years ago.

Is the game tape perfect? No. No ones is. But when he is given an NFL head coach, a Pro Bowl receiver, NFL offensive lineman, He. Can. Thrive.

Thank you Christian Hackenberg for saving OUR program. You deserve better and your talent will prove to be superior in a quarterback class that has proven to be lackluster.

#WeAre #ForTheGlory