When Penn State was dealing with sanctions, it was undoubtedly the most challenging period in the program’s history. However, this did not deter the 2013 top quarterback recruit Christian Hackenberg, who committed to play for the Nittany Lions.
Hackenberg had a strong first season under Bill O’Brien, but his TD-to-INT ratio dropped to 12 to 15 in his second year. In his third year under James Franklin, Hackenberg threw 16 touchdowns to 6 interceptions but had 500 fewer passing yards than in his first two seasons.
Some argue that Hackenberg did not fit well into James Franklin’s system, which hindered his progression. Nonetheless, Hackenberg remained a highly regarded prospect and chose to forego his final year of eligibility to enter the 2016 NFL draft, where he was selected in the 2nd round.
Unfortunately, Hackenberg never developed into an NFL-caliber quarterback, despite having the potential. Recently, he explained his struggles on the Ross Tucker Podcast, saying, “New York was probably the last place I should’ve gone.”
Hackenberg elaborated that the organization’s decision to keep four quarterbacks during his rookie year limited his opportunities to develop and grow.
While Hackenberg was candid about the Jets’ missteps, he also took responsibility for his situation. “When I look at it introspectively, I was young, I needed a lot of help, and I needed a lot of direction and guidance, and I never sought that out.”
Hackenberg was last released by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018. He ranks 3rd on Penn State’s all-time passing list with 8,427 yards and 3rd for all-time touchdown passes with 48.
