Christian Hackenberg contemplating a transfer?
It appears Hackenberg is 50-50 on whether he will transfer or return to PSU. Per his father, it is not a given that Hackenberg will return to campus or class until a replacement coach has been found. He will then decide his next steps from there. Hackenberg's father went on to say: "Right now the plan is to continue to move forward and like a lot of kids right now it’s lets see what happens,” Erick said. “We’re hopeful it happens quickly and until we have all the information we have to wait. I’m not saying he will or won’t (return) and that sounds bad, but it’s neutral. He’s still enrolled at Penn State, still loves the school but hopefully in the next 7-to-10 days, maybe 14 days we’re able to get all the facts.”
The word on PSU message boards is that Hackenberg was very close with coach O'Brien, and O'Brien was really his sole mentor.
This could be interesting to see how this situation unfolds, especially if O'Connor de-commits.
http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2014/01/like_most_penn_state_players_q.html
January 1st, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^
Not really. What fun would it be if there was no room for baseless speculation?
January 1st, 2014 at 8:08 PM ^
I guess I should have said, I would have been much more surprised if he wasn't contemplating leaving. I'm pretty sure BOB was 90 percent of the reason he went there.
January 1st, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^
If he leaves, he can use his redshirt and not lose a year of eligibility, right?
January 1st, 2014 at 9:00 PM ^
I'm pretty sure you don't lose a year of eligibility when you sit out a year due to transferring.
January 1st, 2014 at 9:15 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 9:47 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 3:53 AM ^
You don't lose a year of eligibility to play. You have five years to play four seasons. If he transfers somewhere, he'll have to sit out the 2014 season. Then he will still have 3 seasons to play (2015, 2016, 2017).
There are occasions where the NCAA grants waivers for kids to play immediately (like when PSU was sanctioned, DeAnthony Arnett's family issues, etc.), but it's not just "Oh, I miss my mommy, so the NCAA will let me play next year."
January 1st, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^
IMO, he'd transfer to Va Tech.
That said, I had that it's his dad commenting...even though he said nothing wrong and I don't blame Christian one bit for these thoughts/feelings.
But his dad needs to STFU and GTFO. "We need to evaluate...," dude, it's your kid and his education and college career. It's not testing free agency.
January 1st, 2014 at 8:10 PM ^
Not really sure why it bothers you so much... His path to the NFL is potentially changing dramatically. I'd say some evaluation is in order.
January 1st, 2014 at 8:10 PM ^
to any school they wish without having to sit out a year?
January 1st, 2014 at 8:11 PM ^
No, that was only the 2012 season. As soon as this season started, the transfer rules went back to normal.
January 1st, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^
I thought it was for any player who was on the roster last year, and they could do it at any point. Either way. it doesn't apply to Hackenberg.
January 1st, 2014 at 8:47 PM ^
for clarifying. . .
January 1st, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^
From this August: "Preseason camp begins Monday. Once a Nittany Lion takes part, that player no longer has the option to transfer without having to sit out a year at a new school."
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/penn-state-transfer-rule…
So any player who transfers, absent some extenuating circumstances, would have to sit out a year. Unless they have a redshirt, they'd also lose a year of eligibility.
January 1st, 2014 at 10:17 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 9:03 PM ^
I remember Denard briefly considered transfering when Rich Rod was fired, so it's not all that surprising that Hackenberg would have thoughts of leaving a few hours after his mentor leaves. I think as long as Penn State makes a good hire (Schaino, Dan Mullen, etc.) he will end up staying.
January 1st, 2014 at 9:10 PM ^
...but there was no formal statement like this one. This feels different. You may be right, he may still stay, but to me it seems like he's already taken the thought farther than Denard ever did.
January 1st, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 7:38 AM ^
I wouldn't be so sure about Schaino. His background is defense, and he doesn't exactly have the best reputation for developing / dealing with QBs.
January 1st, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^
I wonder how much he was able to hold it together and how much might come undone (finally) due to the sanctions? O'Brien seemed like he really put his all into keeping the program sustainable/glued together. Perhaps we will now see the full effect of the punishment, even as they start to come out of the worst of it in a couple of years. He will be hard to replace.
January 1st, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
Good question. I think he did an outstanding job given the circumstances, and had great potential as their head coach. I thought he was going to have them in good shape in due time. Now, I don't know.
January 1st, 2014 at 11:31 PM ^
Him @ Wisconsin would be scary. Could very much mirror the Russ Wilson year. They have everything in place but a dynamic QB.
January 1st, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
I don't think he would be allowed to transfer within the Big Ten.
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:40 AM ^
Why not? Players transfer within the same conference all the time, unless that's a rule specific to the B1G.
January 2nd, 2014 at 3:55 AM ^
I believe the Big Ten rule about transferring inside the conference disappeared last year. Now kids can transfer from Big Ten school to Big Ten school and still get a scholarship, whereas previously (as with Justin Boren) you had to walk on at your new school.
January 1st, 2014 at 11:43 PM ^
I don't know Hackenberg or what he's looking for in a school, but if he cares most about playing for a good program and making it to the NFL than I would have to imagine that he would look for a pro style system (or close to it) in a power conference that doesn't have a solid starting QB.
If he wants to go back home, than Va Tech or Virginia could be good options for him.
January 2nd, 2014 at 3:57 AM ^
Virginia is probably not a good option at this point. And if London doesn't get things turned around in 2014, I think he'll be gone. He's already on the hot seat, and I think the only reason he's being kept around for another year is the fact that he has two 5-stars on the hook for the 2014 class (Quin Blanding and Andrew Brown).
January 2nd, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
The reason London is being kept around is they just hired a bunch of expensive new assistants on two-year contracts and the admin doesn't want to be on the hook for not just London's contract but the whole rest of the staff too. When the staff was overhauled at the end of the 2012 season they were committing themselves to two more years minimum.
But to the larger point, no, I'm quite sure Hackenberg would not be transferring to UVA. VT I could see.
January 2nd, 2014 at 7:44 AM ^
It's definitely going to be difficult to replace BOB, and if Hackenberg leaves too, I would have to believe it makes the new coach's job that much more difficult to keep recruits, especially for players on offense.