Eli Apple's seen Christian Hackenberg play many times before. In fact, he caught passes from the Penn State quarterback prior to his time at Ohio State.
"He was my quarterback for some 7-on-7s back in high school, so I know he has a really, really good arm," Apple, who is from New Jersey said of Hackenberg, who is from Virginia. "He's going to be a first round (NFL Draft) quarterback for sure."
Apple wouldn't go as far as to say the Hackenberg-led Nittany Lion passing unit — which is only 11th in the Big Ten and averages 187 yards per game — figures to be the best Ohio State's faced in 2015 to date, but his head coach did.
“He kind of just runs the show. He gets all those accolades and stuff for a reason because he can make all the great throws and he's just a great quarterback and a great leader. As a defense we just gotta be on top of stuff.”– Eli Apple on Christian Hackenberg
"Certainly it is," Urban Meyer said Wednesday. "They're a get it out fast team. So when you say get it out fast, a lot of time that's on the Darron Lees, the linebackers because a lot will be underneath. Also, they throw a lot of screens and that's D-line retracing the line."
Hackenberg's in his third season as the starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions and though he possesses a big-time arm, struggles when the lights shine brightest. Against Ohio State in 2013, Hackenberg threw two interceptions and was just 12-of-23 for 112 yards in a 63-14 loss.
Last year, however, was a different story. Hackenberg still threw two interceptions against the Buckeyes in State College, but completed 31 passes for 224 yards and pushed Ohio State to the brink in the 31-24 double overtime loss.
"He kind of just runs the show," Apple said. "He gets all those accolades and stuff for a reason because he can make all the great throws and he's just a great quarterback and a great leader. As a defense we just gotta be on top of stuff."
Fourteen of those 31 completions last season went to DaeSean Hamilton, who finished with 126 yards against the Buckeyes as Penn State dink and dunked its way down the field near the end of the game and took the lead. Saturday, the Nittany Lions visit Ohio Stadium for an 8 p.m. kickoff.
Ohio State's struggling with depth issues in the defensive backfield as well, as Meyer announced Erick Smith was out for the Penn State game and a suspension for nickel corner Damon Webb continues. Junior Cam Burrows is also out for the season with a foot injury.
"It's that time of year and I want to say we lost a couple guys in the last week," Meyer said. "That starts hitting you in the kicking game."
Meyer named Jerome Baker as a true freshman who will see time on special teams to replace some of the injured Buckeyes and provide depth, but the top priority right now is Hackenberg.
"I think the corners are ready to go play a good game, but it's much more complicated than just the corners," Meyer said.
Added Apple: "They definitely provide a great challenge for sure, so we're going to have to watch film, we've already been studying them for a while. We're definitely looking forward to this."
