PSU’s Hackenberg injured in bowl loss to Georgia

Quarterback declared for NFL Draft after Georgia victory

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.

Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg had hoped to go out with a victory.

He certainly didn’t expect his college career to end in street clothes.

But Hackenberg spent the second half of his final game with the Nittany Lions on the sideline because of a sprained throwing shoulder. He declared for the NFL draft after a 24-17 loss to Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Saturday.

“It’s been an awesome ride, tough way to end it today,” Hackenberg said. “It means the world to me. My family and I talked about it and we felt this was the best decision for me. I felt my role here and my job here has been accomplished.”

Standout defensive tackle Austin Johnson also announced after the game that he’s turning pro. Johnson, a junior who started every game each of the last two seasons, graduated last month with a degree in journalism.

Like Johnson, most outsiders expected Hackenberg to leave early.

Hackenberg left the bowl game in the second quarter after linebacker Roquan Smith landed on him. Hackenberg stayed in and threw four more passes, but grabbed his shoulder between plays. He headed to the locker room for tests and returned for the second half without a uniform.

He said he wanted to play, but team officials told him no.

“He just fell on it funny,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “He was able to go. He actually made some plays there. He was going to try to finish that drive. Once he went inside, the trainers, doctors, didn’t feel like he was going to be able to go well enough to continue playing. He wouldn’t have the strength in that arm.”

Franklin said X-rays “came back normal.”

“It’s in that joint,” he said. “Once it gets inflamed, you’re going to lose strength and power.”

Hackenberg was “disappointed I wasn’t able to finish the game.” He said he made his decision to turn pro before the team left State College for Jacksonville.

Hackenberg, a junior, is the school’s career leader in yards passing (8,457) and touchdowns (48) as well as completions, attempts and total offense. He completed eight of 14 passes for 139 yards against Georgia.

Redshirt freshman Trace McSorley replaced Hackenberg and completed 14 of 27 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Georgia’s Terry Godwin threw a touchdown pass on a trick play and caught one later. The Bulldogs (10-3) won their fifth consecutive game to close the season, this one under interim coach Bryan McClendon and with incoming coach Kirby Smart watching from the stands.

Smart had to like what he saw. Despite a makeshift coaching staff — Georgia used different offensive and defensive coordinators — the Bulldogs turned in one of their most complete performances since September.

DaeSean Hamilton’s leaping grab between two defenders made it close, a welcome change given many of the games on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The Bulldogs responded with a 50-yard drive that could have sealed the victory, but they failed to convert a fourth-and-2 play at the 23.

Penn State took over with 1:52 remaining and no timeouts. McSorley and the Nittany Lions converted two fourth-down plays, but eventually ran out time. His final pass, a Hail Mary to the end zone, was batted down as time expired.

The Nittany Lions lost their fourth in a row to end Franklin’s second season.

McSorley completed 14 of 26 passes for 142 yards. Chris Godwin had six receptions for 133 yards and became the third player in school history to top 1,000 yards receiving, joining Bobby Ingram and Allen Robinson.

Georgia, which parted ways with Mark Richt in late November, led 24-3 late in the third after Sony Michel carried 260-pound defensive end Garrett Sickels into the end zone. Michel started right, made a cut and then gave Sickels a 7-yard ride before stretching across the goal line.

Had it not been for Godwin that might have been Georgia’s top highlight.

Godwin accounted for two scores in the second quarter. He lined up in the wildcat, took the snap, started right and then took two steps back and launched a high, deep pass to Malcolm Mitchell. Mitchell got behind the safeties for a 44-yard score.