On the eve of their first game, Penn State has named true freshman Christian Hackenberg the starting quarterback for its game against Syracuse tomorrow, according to a source with knowledge of Coach Bill O’Brien’s decision. He has not made the decision public yet.
Hackenberg, ESPN’s top-rated passer of the 2013 class, beat out junior college quarterback Tyler Ferguson for the job. Ferguson enrolled in January and held an early edge in preseason camp. But by Week 2, O’Brien said the battle was too close to call.
Hackenberg will become just the third true freshman since 1910 to start at quarterback for the Nittany Lions. Shorty Miller was the first in 1910, and Rob Bolden made his debut in 2008.
As a senior in high school, Hackenberg led Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy to the state title game, where it lost to Liberty Christian 35-14. He finished the season completing 54 percent of his passes and throwing for 2,144 yards, 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
