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Penn State Football: Mac Hippenhammer joins breakout player watch list

By Collin Wieder

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Penn State Nittany Lions players pose for a photo after beating the Washington Huskies 35-28 during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Penn State Nittany Lions players pose for a photo after beating the Washington Huskies 35-28 during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Add Mac Hippenhammer to the players to watch list. Penn State football has loads of young talent and Hippenhammer is just the latest.

Every year a usual unknown with zero production breaks out for a huge season. Last year Juwan Johnson turned his numbers from two catches for 70 yards to 54 receptions for 701 yards. A solid spring game put him on the map, and I saw him as the breakout player for 2017. This year, it won’t be hard to make that pick for Penn State football. Mac Hippenhammer owns the title of breakout player to watch.

With zero catches in his short career, Mac Hippenhammer made a name for himself at Penn State’s spring game. All Nittany Lions fans have probably seen his game, catching four passes, two of which went for touchdowns. An impressive showing in the time-shortened game. Although he didn’t turn heads with blinding speed or imposing size, he made plays in coverage.

On his first quick pass from Trace McSorley, he shucked a quick hit from a defensive back and settled into a hole in the zone. It’s small plays like that prove he has what it takes to play. One, he wasn’t afraid to attack the middle and two he created an open receiver for McSorley to dump it off to.

In addition, the out route for a touchdown came out a beautiful swim move off the line and a nice route. The corner attempted to jam him at the line, he simply played him inside-out and worked his way open and away from the outside corner.

The final catch was evident of his ball tracking. He didn’t burn the corner on his route and the safety came in to help, but Hippenhammer didn’t flinch. He casually cradled the ball for a nice 29-yard score.

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Instead of focusing on if a receiver can play, a lot of people fall in love with specific skill sets like all-world track speed or physical, 50-50 receivers. Sometimes a possession receiver that works hard on routes is the best thing for a quarterback. McSorley has all those players already starting for him. Now, he can add Hippenhammer to the corp.

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