Penn State secures first commitment for class of 2013
Christian Hackenberg, a quarterback from Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy, is the first recruit from the Class of 2013 to verbally commit to Penn State coach Bill O'Brien.
Penn State coach Bill O'Brien has received his first oral commitment for the freshman class of 2013, a quarterback who apparently liked the fact O'Brien worked with Tom Brady when he was the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.
Christian Hackenberg, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound QB at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy, committed to Penn State late Tuesday, according to several recruiting web sites.
Hackenberg, who visited Penn State during the football program's Junior Day on Feb. 19, also had offers from Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Rutgers and Miami. Rivals.com has given him a four-star rating and ranks him 153th among all players in his class.
Hackenberg's coach, Mickey Sullivan, told Rivals.com that Hackenberg "wanted a program that fit his physical gifts" and felt O'Brien could provide that.
"That means he wanted a prop-style offense and having a head coach that ran an NFL offense with Tom Brady certainly didn't hurt," Sullivan said. "He wanted to be in the right system and he found it, and he will learn a lot form coach O'Brien."
Hackenberg, who passed for 2,200 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, grew up in Tamaqua, Pa., before his family moved. Sullivan said he still has family and friends in that area.
--Joe Juliano