When Penn State was hit with NCAA sanctions due to the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse scandal, keeping top prospect Christian Hackenberg committed to the school was coach Bill O’Brien’s biggest off-the-field win. Saturday, Hackenberg, the country’s top freshman quarterback, got his first win and showed what all the fuss was about.
Hackenberg threw two touchdown passes and led the Nittany Lions to a 23-17 victory over Syracuse. In front of an announced crowd of 61,202 at MetLife Stadium, the 18-year-old was far from perfect, but he was more than good enough to beat the Orange in New York’s College Classic.
Hackenberg, ESPN’s top-rated passer in this recruiting class, was 22-for-31 for 278 yards with two interceptions. Just the second freshman quarterback to start a Penn State opener since 1910, Hackenberg hit Allen Robinson with a 51-yard strike in the third quarter and Eugene Lewis for 54 yards for a 23-10 cushion with 11 minutes 39 seconds left in the fourth. The Nittany Lions held on from there.
“We’ve got a lot of improvement to do on offense, but everybody can see there’s talent on offense,” O’Brien said. “I just need to do a better job coaching those guys.
“[Hackenberg has] got a tremendous future. We’re not ready to waltz him into the college football Hall of Fame. The guy’s got a long way to go,” O’Brien said. “But he made some nice throws. … He’s fun to coach.’’
O’Brien sat Robinson for the first half due to disciplinary reasons. But as soon as the Big Ten Receiver of the Year got in the game, he took it over with seven catches for 133 yards.
“The decision not to play Allen in the first half is between me and Allen,’’ O’Brien said.
With Penn State clinging to a 6-3 lead after a tepid first half, Robinson snared a 24-yard catch on his very first snap and beat safety Durrell Eskridge for his 51-yard touchdown on his second.
Syracuse answered back, with quarterback Drew Allen — taking over for the departed Ryan Nassib, now with the Giants — hitting receiver Jeremiah Kobena for 55 yards and running back Jerome Smith (16 carries for 72 yards) getting around left end for a 10-yard score on the next play to make it 13-10. But Penn State added a field goal, and then Hackenberg hit Lewis deep for that 54-yard TD.
“I felt more comfortable,’’ said Hackenberg. “The first snap was big for me,” Hackenberg said. “But once I got that out of the way, started getting more completions under my belt and the team started moving the ball, I felt more comfortable.’’
The Orange had one last rally in them. On third-and-11 from the Penn State 30, defensive lineman Robert Welsh dropped into coverage and picked Hackenberg off, rumbling to the 1. Smith dived in on the very next play to get the Orange within 23-17 with 6:58 left. But Penn State cornerback Trevor Williams intercepted Allen (17-of-38 for 193 yards and two interceptions) to seal the win.