Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/109500
SOMETHING IN THE AIR The Nittany Lions��� new era continues to take shape with the signing of top QB Christian Hackenberg C hristian Hackenberg is a confident young quarterback. When he drops back into the pocket, he always thinks there���s a play to be made, possibly a big one, if only he can hang in there long enough to deliver the ball downfield. When he was an underclassman at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, his coach, Micky Sullivan, would stand behind him in practice and count the seconds ��� One thousand one! One thousand two! ��� until Hackenberg let go of the football. ���If it���s not gone by one thousand three,��� Sullivan would tell him, ���you���re dead.��� Hackenberg took his share of sacks as a high school quarterback, especially his junior year when Fork Union, battered by injuries, didn���t have enough of a running game to keep opposing defenses honest. But he also made his share of big plays. More than his share, actually, and one of the keys to his success was his faith in himself. ���I���ve been around some really good quarterbacks, and all of them who are really good are the guys who believe they can throw a football through a keyhole at 60 yards,��� Sullivan said. ���If you don���t believe that, I don���t know that you can play that position at a high level. You���ve gotta believe that. ��� And LOOKING DEEP Hackenberg shined on the summer camp circuit and at Fork Union Military Academy, passing for 5,509 yards in his career. His parents, Erick and Nikki, were on hand for a signing ceremony at the school on Feb. 6. Photo courtesy of Fork Union Mili