Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Christian Hackenberg impresses with pro day performance

Connor O'Gara

By Connor O'Gara

Published:

He has the size and the arm strength, but does he have the accuracy?

After his combine performance, that was still the scouting report on Christian Hackenberg. According to USA Today, “Hackenberg sailed numerous throws, forced receivers to jump on a couple short routes and generally didn’t look comfortable while working in a group that included Cal’s Jared Goff and Michigan State’s Connor Cook” at the combine.

Penn State’s pro day was a chance for Hackenberg to quiet some concerns about his combine performance and his 56-percent career completion rate.

Those who were on hand to watch Hackenberg throw on Thursday said that he did just that.

The only area Hackenberg reportedly struggled with was on a few short dump-off passes. When he got a chance to air it out, he showed off the arm strength that many scouts are high on:

The 6-4 signal-caller had plenty of NFL eyes watching him Thursday. New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman were both in attendance to watch Hackenberg throw.

Hackenberg’s quarterback trainer, Jordan Palmer, said that the workout he turned in will help boost his draft stock:

Before he worked out, James Franklin gave NFL Network a projection of Hackenberg.

“Depending on the situation he walks into, I think he can be a franchise quarterback, but I think there’s very few guys that are able to walk in from Day 1 and make that transition,” Franklin told NFL Network’s NFL HQ on Thursday. “… I think the ideal situation for any quarterback, including Christian, is to be able to come in, be around a veteran quarterback that’s really skilled and learn from that guy (for) a year or so.

“Now, when you’re able to step in, he is ready to handle that situation.”

Hackenberg still isn’t an NFL-ready starter and his chances of going in the first round likely faded. But if nothing else, he helped himself on Thursday.

Connor O'Gara

Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.