Blue White Illustrated

>> ING IT COOL Hackenberg remains unfazed by life in the public eye here's no pretense in Christian Hackenberg. He doesn't have time for it. Hackenberg has a year's expe- rience leading one of the most prestigious college football programs in the country. He's playing a key role at a critical moment in its history, helping a damaged brand regain its place among the elite. He has quickly become a star at the game's most visible position, has received as many preseason accolades as any player in the Big Ten and understands that the hopes of the Penn State foot- ball team and its enormous community of fans rest largely in his hands. Head coach James Franklin, teammates, parents and even Hackenberg himself, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2013, all readily acknowledge the realities that come with the position. "Obviously," Franklin said, "being Christian Hackenberg, at Penn State and in this community, is a big deal." More than a year has passed since Hack- enberg le8 Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia to enroll at Penn State. The most heralded quarterback prospect in the country, he studied intently under Bill O'Brien last fall, directed the Nittany Lions to a 7-5 season that included two victories over Top 25 opponents and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week a remarkable 6ve times along the way. Following the season, Hackenberg watched helplessly as O'Brien departed for a job with the NFL's Houston Texans, publicly embraced Franklin upon his arrival and helped to stabilize a di7cult and emo- tional transition. All of this before his 19th birthday. No wonder, then, that the people close to him are just as impressed with Hack- enberg's performance as a public 6gure as with his passing and game management. "I'm proud of the way Christian played. Who wouldn't be as a parent? That's great," Hackenberg's father, Erick, said. "But what I'm probably most proud of with Christian is how he has handled it. So many alumni, probably the strongest lettermen's association of any school in the country, a top-three fan base in the United States of America, and you're 18 years old. At the end of the day – I'm not saying this because he's my kid – that's been on his shoulders." Maturity has never been an issue for Hackenberg. In high school, he was a starting quarterback by the end of his freshman season, gravitating toward the team's upperclassmen for guidance as he transitioned into the role. Upon his arrival at University Park last June, he did the same thing, leaning on veterans such as WISH UPON A STAR Penn State has high hopes for Hack- enberg's soph- omore season after he fin- ished third in the Big Ten in passing last season with an average of 246.2 yards per game. Photo by Bill Anderson | T

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