Christian Hackenberg’s last day of school cut short

Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg’s last day of school was cut short Saturday in the Taxslayer Bowl against Georgia. Hackenberg was sharp, going 8-14 for 139 yards with an interception that first went through his receiver’s hands. He would end up leaving the game with an injured right shoulder in the second quarter and not returning.

Then after the 24-17 loss to Georgia, Hackenberg announced his intention to enter the 2016 NFL Draft. I maintain despite his numbers and all else, Hackenberg is the kind of quarterback that should be considered in the top-10. However, that doesn’t seem to be the way it will go and a team is going to get a steal.

He has shown through his college career that he has the mental fortitude to take a bottom-feeder franchise to the top. After the Jerry Sandusky situation, Hackenberg stayed to play in an offense he didn’t fit after head coach Bill O’Brien went to the Houston Texans and limited talent from scholarship reductions and recruits not wanting to go.

His decision to stay influenced a lot of his teammates to do the same and actually come out decent this year. Put that together with Hackenberg’s play and the Nittany Lions were able to make to a Bowl game in the first year they were eligible after the scandal. Hackenberg did a good job as an 18-year old kid handling O’Brien’s complex, pro style offensive system.

He’s 6’4″, 230 pounds, has a big arm and athletic too but scouts are divided on him because he hasn’t had great numbers. If he slides to where O’Brien and his Texans can take him, it’s game over in the AFC South. Everything around Hackenberg will be there for him to take advantage of and succeed.