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Christian Hackenberg gets endorsed by former Penn State, current Texans coach Bill O’Brien

By Patrick Schmidt

Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Christian Hackenberg is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft and helping his case is a ringing endorsement from former Penn State and current Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien.

It would appear to be a match made in heaven for the Houston Texans and Christian Hackenberg.

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The former Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback had his best season as a freshman under the tutelage of head coach Bill O’Brien. The 6-4, 217-pound Hackenberg threw for 20 touchdowns to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in his one season with the current head coach of the Texans and showed the potential of a future high pick in the first round.

When O’Brien left Happy Valley for the Texans job two years ago, Hackenberg’s production dropped significantly under new head coach James Franklin and is being viewed as a mid-round draft prospect after two so-so years.

It’s no secret the Texans need a quarterback so could there be a reunion on tap with O’Brien and Hackenberg?

O’Brien addressed the media at the NFL Combine at the same time on Thursday and gave a ringing endorsement into the type of person Hackenberg is.

“First of all, he’s a great kid,” O’Brien said, via Dan Parr of NFL.com. “He comes from a great family. We enjoyed recruiting him. I’ve known him since he was 17 years old, when he was at Fork Union (Military Academy). I’ve known him for a long time. I know his parents, his brothers. He’s a humble kid. He’s talented, smart. Good guy to be around and I enjoyed coaching him his first year at Penn State.”

O’Brien also said he won’t be evaluating Hackenberg any differently than any other player because of their one year together at Penn State. Hackenberg was speaking at the same time as O’Brien from the other side of the room in Indianapolis and admits it would be great to reunite but he’s trying to impress every NFL team, not just O’Brien’s Texans.

“I think it’s a great opportunity, but at the end of the day, I’m just here trying to be the best prospect that I can be and impress 32 football teams,” Hackenberg said.

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The first round will likely be too rich for the Texans to take Hackenberg at No. 23 but if he’s available in the second or third round when they’re on the clock, it can’t be ruled out based on the pre-existing relationship between the two and the success they shared.

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