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A Look Back at Christian Hackenberg’s Career and Lasting Legacy at Penn State

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

Oct 31, 2015; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) warms up prior to the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won 39-0. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) warms up prior to the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won 39-0. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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He was the savior of an entire program. The first recruit to commit to the uncertainty that was ahead for a historic football program amidst its most tumultuous and trying times in February 2012. He was a five-star commitment as well, something that Penn State fans weren’t used to in recent memory. By the time he arrived on campus prior to the 2013 season, quarterback Christian Hackenberg was already a bit of a legendary figure.

The next three years at Penn State for Hackenberg were up and down, and almost an exact mirror image of the Nittany Lions’ three seasons themselves.

Prior to his first game as a Nittany Lion, it wasn’t even a sure thing that the 18-year-old would be making his first career start, as he was in a position battle with transfer quarterback Tyler Fegueson. Bill O’Brien, the head coach at the time, wouldn’t make his decision public until game time. Once that time rolled around, Hackenberg was given the nod. He went on to throw the first two touchdowns of his career, and lead Penn State to a 23-17 victory over Syracuse.

His freshman season could also be considered Hack’s career year, as he threw for 2,955 yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Hackenberg delivered an epic four-over time upset against Michigan, and also led an upset victory against Wisconsin when the Nittany Lions were a 24-point underdog. Hackenberg’s freshman season saw the 18-year-old quarterback garner national attention and be considered a potential future first-overall draft pick in the NFL.

After Hackenberg’s freshman season, Bill O’Brien left for the Houston Texans, leaving Hackenberg and the Nittany Lions in a tough spot.

Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin was hired to take over the program. It was a decision that turned out to maybe not be the best for Christian’s development, as the new offense didn’t seem like as natural of a fit as it was under O’Brien.

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Entering the 2014 season, there were high hopes for the Nittany Lions and Hackenberg.

In the 2014 season opener, the Nittany Lions took on the UCF Knights in Ireland. In that game, Hackenberg led the Nittany Lions to a 26-24 victory while throwing for 454 yards and a touchdown. While he did throw two interceptions to just one touchdown, the boxscore doesn’t always tell the full story. Hackenberg went up against a great secondary and threw for almost 500 yards.

However, Hackenberg’s sophomore season could be classified overall as a major disappointment.

He struggled with turnovers and poor throws for much of the season, finishing with more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (12). He ended his sophomore season on a high note though, throwing for  371 yards and four touchdowns in a comeback win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The most amazing state for Hackenberg in 2014? He was sacked 44 times in just 13 games, an average of 3.38 per game.

He finished his sophomore season with 2,977 passing yards a career high, along with 12 touchdowns and 15 interceptions – not exactly the numbers of a potential first-overall pick. Through the good, the bad, the pretty, and the ugly, Hackenberg had 5,932 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and 25 interceptions over his first 24-collegiate games. Not to mention his 65-sacks through two seasons.

Following his sophomore season, Hackenberg’s draft stock took a severe hit. Writers everywhere were debating if the once potential top pick should declare for the draft following his junior year. For him to reclaim his once top status, Hackenberg would have to have a season for the ages. Looking at the Penn State schedule entering the 2015 season, the idea seemed somewhat plausible. However, everyone learned rather quickly that 2015 could be a repeat of the 2014 season.

In their season opener against Temple, Hackenberg struggled getting the ball out, and was hit constantly, as the Nittany Lions gave up 10 sacks, including one on a two-man rush.

Despite the poor first game, Hackenberg threw  just one interception over the next eight games while throwing 13 touchdowns. For the season, Hackenberg threw for just 2,525 yards with 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He only threw for over 300 yards once on the season, a 315-yard performance against Maryland.

His best game of the 2015 season was without a doubt his performance against Illinois. The signal-caller threw completed 21 of 29 passes for 266-yards and two touchdowns.

Hackenberg played in all 13 games for the Nittany Lions in 2015, and took another 38 sacks on the season. Then, against Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl, Hackenberg started the game well but suffered an early shoulder injury while scrambling from the pocket. That run turned out to be the last play of his career at Penn State.

Hackenberg finished his career at Penn State holding numerous records, including career passing yards (8,457) and career touchdowns (48). He may not have had the career many Penn State fans would’ve hoped for, or the career that many experts believed that he would have had, but in the end,  Hack gave all he could for Penn State. Every fall Saturday, he suited up and got behind the center and took hit after hit only to ask for more the next week.

Christian Hackenberg will undoubtedly go down as a legend at Penn State, not exactly for what he did on the field, but for stepping into a program that was looking for a leader, a savior, whatever you want to call it, and keeping that program above water.

Next: Tracking the Five Nittany Lions at the NFL Combine

In the end, Hackenberg should be remembered for everything he did on and off the field, and not the things he failed to do. His legacy at Penn State will be one of the most enduring we may ever see.

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