Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg doesn't look anything like a first-round pick, according to Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus.
"We are extremely low on Hackenberg, and he's done nothing to ease that concern. Just based off the way he plays, he doesn't look anything like a first-round pick. I don't know if I'd even take him right now in the middle rounds," said Palazzolo, via ESPN.
Hackenberg has been one of the most controversial prospects in college football, because there are so many varying opinions on him. Hackenberg has been compared to Troy Aikman, Jay Cutler, and Josh Freeman, showing the wide discrepancy in evaluating the Penn State quarterback.
Scouts are reportedly having a tough time getting past his poor performances, especially against top competition, according to Bucky Brooks of College Football 24/7. Scouts are concerned about his accuracy and his ball placement on intermediate and deep passes. Hackenberg will need to improve his performance down the stretch of this season if he wants to be a top quarterback prospect.
Against Ohio State last week Hackenberg was seven for 13 passing for 120 yards with one touchdown. While Hackenberg has fairly good stats, his completion percentage is just 53.1 percent this season, which is a career-low with the Nittany Lions. The only two big games on Penn State's schedule so far were Temple and Ohio State and Hackenberg's poor play in both of those games is negatively affecting his draft stock.
Penn State plays Maryland this Saturday, and Hackenberg will likely need a big performance to help his position for the 2016 NFL Draft. The junior quarterback is listed at 6-foot-4, 228 pounds and fits the prototypical NFL quarterback mold, but will need to show his talent down the stretch of this season. Penn State still has Michigan and Michigan State on the schedule, and NFL scouts will probably watching Hackenberg closely in those games as they will want to see if he can step up against tough competition.
