Penn State Depth Chart v. Georgia: The Taxslayer

Well, here we are. After a long delay, the last game of the season is here. Penn State, after finishing the year a somewhat disappointing 7-5, will play the Georgia Bulldogs, whose 9-3 is equally disappointing for the Dawg faithful. Plenty has happened since the end of the season, of course. Penn State hired Joe Moorhead, late of Fordham, to take over for He Who Shall Not Be Named at offensive coordinator. For their part, Georgia parted ways with longtime head coach Mark Richt (now at Miami) in favor of Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. This, when these B1G and SEC squads both enter the Taxs Layer, passing through the IRS guardians and exploiting all loopholes on the way to victory, will be the last game for Carl Nassib, Anthony Zettel, Ben Kline, Angelo Mangiro, Kyle Carter, Matt Zanellato, Kevin Reihner, Tarow Barney, Matthew Baney, Trevor Williams, Jordan Lucas, Brandon Johnson, and Jordan Dudas, along with the significant possibility that Austin Johnson turns pro.

There is, however, one major storyline at play here that will likely supersede all: this could be Christian Hackenberg's last game in a Penn State uniform. Even the most aggressive of Hack haters, absurd as I think they are, have to appreciate what he has done. Hackenberg is one of the people who helped keep Penn State football alive throughout the sanction era by staying on as a recruit, stayed when the coach who recruited him left, stayed when the offensive coordinator he had misused him in an extraordinary manner, and continued to stand back up when his offensive line made him end up on his back more often than not. Sure, he hasn't been perfect. There's blame to go his way, undoubtedly. However, this might be the last chance you ever get to see one of the best quarterbacks to ever put on the blue and white play. We're all hoping he comes back, but even if he doesn't, let's all thank Christian Hackenberg for what he's done for this team the last three years. It's hard to imagine post-Paterno Penn State without him, and his legacy as a true Nittany Lion great will live on, by talent and by legacy. Hack stayed many times, when nobody would've blamed him for leaving. Nobody will ever forget that.

There is one major change to the depth chart, with Gregg Garrity taking over punt return duties. Enjoy the game, everyone. I'll see you on Twitter.