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the Pinstripe Bowl. Now, Franklin and the Nittany Lions' staff are going to rely on that maturation more than ever. As it tries to mold Hackenberg's sup- porting cast into one that can offer, well, consistent support, Penn State's coach- ing staff is hoping to not have to ask for as much on-field abracadabra from Hackenberg. The staff is determined to raise the overall level of performance so that the playmaking burden isn't over- whelmingly shouldered by Hackenberg. His role in the offense's continued de- velopment will be largely cerebral as he takes complete charge of the Nittany Li- ons this summer. "I think where you're really going to see it is this off-season when the coach- es are on the road," Franklin said. Hack- enberg will be "coming into the locker room, watching film on his own and with the receivers, with the O-line and talking protections, going out and throwing on their own. I think that's where you're really going to see the big step with him this off-season – taking ownership of the team. "Overall, his leadership is right on schedule. I see him interacting with his teammates a lot more. I see him inter- acting with his coaches a lot more." When you scan Penn State's projected starting lineup on the offensive side of the ball, you see teammates who have spent as much time in the program as Hackenberg, and in some cases more. Rounding out only his second full year at Penn State, Hackenberg can now look around and see teammates with some experience that finally matches their leadership abilities. "We're so much further ahead as a team in our whole understanding of what's going on, what we need to do, both conceptually and as leaders," he said. "I think we've had a lot of guys emerge throughout this winter circuit, and being able to do it and push guys and hold each other to an expectation, I think that's only going to help us." But only center Angelo Mangiro and tight end Kyle Carter will enter their fifth years, while wideout Geno Lewis and running back Akeel Lynch are set to begin their redshirt junior seasons. Having taken nearly every snap as Penn State's starting quarterback the past two years, Hackenberg is the unit's 20-year-old vet. He knows how much progress has been made from the end of the Pinstripe Bowl to now, but he also understands what remains to be accom- plished this off-season. Taking a cue from Franklin, who has asked for players to show individual initiative this summer, Hackenberg has already shifted his focus to planning the offense's informal workouts. "I try to just get a feel for the guys to make sure we can get together as a unit," he said. "I don't want to go out with a couple of guys. I want to make sure that we get everyone in there. So that's what we're going to do. We're going to organize it to do whatever we've got to do." First he'll breathe, though. After transitioning from the season to the bowl game to winter workouts and finally to spring practice, Hackenberg will no doubt benefit from the decom- pression that takes place in May. Having already developed confidence through months and months of guiding his young skill position teammates to their present situations, the Virginia na- tive can now finish out the spring se- mester and maybe swing a golf club or two, all while keeping an eye on the fu- ture and his mind on the direction his Lions are now headed. "It's an awesome time to just sort of step back, take some time, relax and think about it," he said. "But it's always a process. You're always working, so you can't take too much time off. There's al- ways someone out there working harder than you. "So you just need to make sure that you take the time to get everything ready and whatever it is you need to do – step away, get a release, whatever it is – [do it] and then get back with the guys and start working as soon as we can." With time on his side more than at any point last season, it's a process Hacken- berg's young, developing Lions can't wait to tackle. ■ 111 E. Beaver Ave s State College, PA 16801 www.The-Phyrst.com 814.234.4406 137 Elmwood St. s State College, PA 16801 www.HappyValleyBeer.com Wood-fire Grill 12 Beers on Tap 200 Year Old Barn 821 Cricklewood Dr. s Toftrees, State College www.AmericanAleHouse.net 814.237.9701 s Piano Bar s Sommelier 814.238.1406 814.234.7700 s 1611 Atherton St. s State College 814.941.7788 s Plank Rd. Exit s Altoona www.ChampsSportsGrill.net s Best Game Bar s Large Groups Welcome c lc e W We s p u o r G e g r a L s a e B m a st G e B s S n S h 1 A 1 6 1 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 me co r a l l C S r G s rt o p S s p m a h C . www s t i x . E d k R n a l P s 8 8 7 7 1. 4 9 . 4 1 8 S s . t n S o t r e h t 1 A 1 6 1 s 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 t e n . l l i r na o o t l A e g e l l o C e at t S

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