Christian Hackenberg’s final game as a Penn State Nittany Lion ended with him on the sideline in street clothes. Hackenberg would leave the game with a sprained right shoulder during the second quarter of the TaxSlayer Bowl against Georgia. Redshirt freshman Trace McSorley performed valiantly, throwing two touchdown passes to lead Penn State to a 24-17 loss when they were down 24-3.
After the game, Hackenberg announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2016 NFL Draft. Some Penn State fans rejoiced as they were so excited to be rid of the inconsistent play that accompanied his sophomore and junior seasons. They were also smitten with the potential that McSorley showed. Christian Hackenberg deserved so much more.
Yes, Hackenberg had very inconsistent sophomore and junior seasons, throwing for 28 touchdowns and 20 interceptions over that span. In his freshman season, he threw for 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His average QBR over that time was a 116.6, which was 13 percent lower than his freshman season when he posted a 134.0.
Why the steep drop-off? His freshman head coach, Bill O’Brien, left for the NFL to coach the Houston Texans, and the offensive line play was atrocious the past two seasons as Hackenberg was sacked an average of 41 times a season during his sophomore and junior years, compared to only 21 his freshman year. Hackenberg also didn’t get to throw the ball as far as he used to, as his average yards per attempt the past two seasons were 6.2 and 6.9 yards, respectively, after it was 7.5 yards during his freshman season. For a quarterback whose best attribute is his arm strength, that is a major problem.
So yes, Christian Hackenberg did not have the best career in Penn State history, even though he broke nearly all of the passing records. It is safe to say that Kerry Collins is still the greatest quarterback to ever don the plain-white helmet with a blue stripe. However, Hackenberg was far more important than Collins, or any other quarterback in Penn State history.
Christian Hackenberg remained committed to Penn State after the sanctions hit for the child-sex abuse scandal surrounding former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. He could have gone anywhere else -- he was a five-star recruit and was ranked as the best quarterback prospect in the country. However, he stayed committed to Penn State in its darkest hour. He sacrificed having a fruitful career at a powerhouse like Alabama, where he could have won national championships, maybe even a Heisman Trophy.
He came to Penn State to help O’Brien “keep the program alive” as Hackenberg said. He was the recruit who showed the Nittany Lion faithful that maybe all was not lost. Even when O’Brien left for the NFL, Hackenberg remained committed to Penn State. He never once complained about the system or the play-calling, which was obvious to all football fans was completely wrong for a quarterback like him. He never once made an outburst to the media after sustaining countless hits because the offensive line couldn’t hold their blocks long enough. He got up from the turf, dusted himself off, and called the next play.
Hackenberg may have had a polarizing career, but his importance to the program goes far beyond the numbers. He helped the Penn State football team stay alive when many thought it would crash and burn after the sanctions hit. He may not have won the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards like Collins, but he is still the most important quarterback in Penn State history. So thanks for everything Hack. Good luck in the NFL, and here's to hoping a team with a competent playcaller and offensive line will draft you so you can show everyone just how good you can be.