National Football League

Penn State QB thanks everyone except head coach after declaring for NFL draft

Published Jan. 2, 2016 6:08 p.m. ET

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By Matt Hladik

Penn State junior quarterback Christian Hackenberg declared for the 2016 NFL Draft today, shortly after the Nittany Lions lost the Taxslayer Bowl to Georgia, 24-7.

Hackenberg, who was injured early in the contest, had a promising freshman season in 2013 in a pro-style offense under then-head coach Bill O’Brien, but struggled the next two years in more of a spread-based scheme under James Franklin. All in all, Hackenberg never looked comfortable. 

That’s why it’s interesting that when you read through the transcript of Hackenberg announcing his decision, Franklin’s name is conspicuously absent.

Perhaps this was an innocent oversight. But given the fact Hackenberg thanked his former coach, the team’s video director and one of the athletic communications staffers, it doesn’t exactly seem that way.

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