Sophomore Jinx

[El-Moldo]

Very often a student-athlete has an exceptional freshman year, but their performance the 2nd year fails to live up to the standards of the first effort. This is the sophomore jinx. Could PSU QB Christian Hackenberg be headed for one of those years?

[El-Moldo]

I started this thread on July 19th, two weeks before fall camp. No one responded. It now looks like a serious question.

[KirkHerbstreit]

I don't know if I believe in the term sophomore jinx. I think it's more not living up to the expectations that were made of his prior year. He is certainly not playing anything like a round 1 pick and that is in spite of the oline issues. I have seen many passes where he guns from 5 years away, misses open receivers, etc. That's not oline, that's not coaching, that's just not delivering. He had games last year where he didn't look great, too. It should be noted Hackenberg didn't exactly rip things apart in high school either. He has the tools but he has to put those tools together.

[WPIAL~Titan]

I recall Zac Mills and Anthony Miorelli having really good FR seasons as well, then watching their performance and seemingly their skills atrophy for the next 3 seasons.

The X factor is that Jay is not their QB coach/OC. We will see what happens to Hack...

[abpk2903]

Yeah those 5 completions and 0 tds Anthony Morelli threw as a Freshman really set him up for a sophomore slump...

[DragonsDoExist]

Mills was much better his sophomore year than his freshman year.

[El-Moldo]

Still don't think it's a jinx?

[konjo78]

It's not a jinx just poor play and a lot of hype being put in this kids head being brought down to reality. Someone on here called him a top 5 qb after week 1, when I said he wasn't even top 25 I got killed. I feel sorry for the kid, seen way too much as a savior

[DragonsDoExist]

OL issues and change in offensive philosophy not helping much either.

[El-Moldo]

Wouldn't you think that if Hackenberg WAS a super QB, that he would make the O-line look better? Don't super players make others around them look good?