Bill O’Brien hasn’t named a quarterback; at least he hasn’t told the general public. So for the next few days or so fans can speculate, contemplate, and debate who should take the field. Both Christian Hackenberg and Tyler Ferguson have pros and cons and here are a few to consider. And remember, O’Brien says both players will see the field Saturday so no saving Hackenberg for next year with a redshirt.
Tyler Ferguson:
Pros
- Junior College: Ferguson is making the jump from junior college to Division I which is in theory a smaller step than that of Hackenberg who has only played high school football. It might not be a big difference, but Ferguson might bring a little bit of extra experience with him right out of the gate.
- Months and Counting: Ferguson may have taken some time to be with his family this summer, but at the end of the day he has been on campus longer and around the team more than his counterpart. Does that make him a better quarterback in the long term? Maybe not, but it pays off in the first few weeks.
Cons
- Time away: Ferguson took time off to visit with his family and his sick mother. Nobody blames him for that, but a few players have mentioned that he was a little rusty on his return. It’s hard to know if the rust still exists, but Ferguson may have lost the edge he had heading into training camp.
Christian Hackenberg:
Pros
- He’s the future: At the end of the day, Bill O’Brien brought Hackenberg to Penn State to help the program through the sanctions. If O’Brien hasn’t named Ferguson the starter that means Hackenberg made up a few months of ground over a short period of time. If that’s the case then Hackenberg might just be the real deal.
- Confidence: Fans haven’t seen Hackenberg off the field very many times, but each time he has interacted with fans he’s radiated confidence. What Penn State needs is a quarterback ready to run the offense beyond just understanding the Xs and Os. Hackenberg has that extra boost of confidence that Penn State fans often refer to as “moxie” when mentioning former quarterback Matt McGloin.
Cons
- New game: Hackenberg is walking into Penn State’s season with a mountain of expectations on his head. While he’ll play against Syracuse, easing him into the starting role could help him make the transition to the college game. Even the best quarterbacks make mistakes and not making them right off the bat is in Penn State’s best interests.
