JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — His decision was made before the bowl game. Christian Hackenberg is headed to the NFL.
Both the Penn State quarterback and fellow junior Austin Johnson announced after the TaxSlayer Bowl loss to Georgia that they were declaring for this spring’s NFL draft.
“My family and I just felt like it was best for me,” Hackenberg said. “I felt like my role here at Penn State and my job has been accomplished and it’s in good hands moving forward. And I’m proud of that.”
Hackenberg’s final game for the Nittany Lions was cut short by what coach James Franklin called a shoulder sprain.
Though he almost never missed a play in his three seasons under center, Hackenberg was knocked out of the game after a defender landed on top of him on a scramble, driving his shoulder into the ground.
Hackenberg stayed in the game for six more plays, but looked to be in significant pain before he came out of the game in favor of redshirt freshman Trace McSorley.
He leaves the Lions with nearly every major passing record in school history.
Johnson, meanwhile, established himself as the latest in the Lions’ string of successful defensive lineman and figures to be selected on the first two days of the draft along with Hackenberg.
“I was just happy to be playing with my brothers and happy to give them my all today,” Johnson said.
He later released a statement saying, “I will carry my pride as a Nittany Lion with me always. It’s been a hell of a ride.”
Lewis undecided
Former Wyoming Valley Conference star Eugene Lewis said he has not made a decision about returning to Penn State for a fifth and final season.
Lewis, who caught a touchdown that helped sparked a second-half Penn State rally, said he would sit down with his family and discuss his future this week.
The wideout earned his undergraduate degree last month.
Check back to timesleader.com for more reactions and videos from a busy TaxSlayer Bowl.