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Ranking Penn State Football’s 4 best freshman seasons as Kalen King emerges

By Lawrence Santa Maria

Penn State Nittany Lions corner back Kalen King (Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-USA TODAY Sports)
Penn State Nittany Lions corner back Kalen King (Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Christian Hackenberg, Penn State Football
Christian Hackenberg #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 2: QB Christian Hackenberg 

The five-star recruit was seen as a bit of a savior for the program as he kept his commitment to Penn State Football despite the sanctions that awaited from the fall out of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Hackenberg was brilliant under head coach Bill O’Brien his freshman season, passing for 2,955 yards and 20 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions. He will forever be remembered for his performance in the upset over undefeated Michigan that season, and the famous play to Allen Robinson down the sideline to tie the game, capping an unbelievable drive with only 52 seconds on the clock.

He was also stellar in their major upset in the last game of the season against Wisconsin, passing for 339 yards and four touchdowns on the road.

Hackenberg broke 12 school freshman passing records in 2013 and was selected as a first team True Freshman All-American by 247sports and was selected second team by multiple outlets like Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.

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